On the surface, Christopher Wilder seemed to project an image of prosperity that one could only dream of. He led a fast-paced life filled with luxurious homes, expensive  cars, and endless date nights with some of the world’s most beautiful women. To most people who knew him, he was a well-established man, reaping the benefits of his many successful business ventures. Yet behind his charismatic facade lay a sinister predator driven by an insatiable hunger for power and control. 

As we piece together the fragmented puzzle of Wilder’s life, we unravel a complex tapestry of manipulation, obsession, and depravity– one that would lead to a six-week cross-country killing spree, claiming the lives of at least 12 young women and earning him the chilling moniker, "The Beauty Queen Killer."

So who exactly was Christopher Wilder, and what enabled him to elude authorities for so long, even while being on the FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted List?

I’m Faith Bernadette, and this is Drop Dead Gorgeous.

***

📊 Links/Sources:
https://allthatsinteresting.com/christopher-wilder

https://www.crimelibrary.org/serial_killers/predators/wilder/index.html

https://www.happyscribe.com/public/serial-killers/the-beauty-queen-killer-christopher-wilder-pt

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article228348854.html

DISCLAIMER:

All sound effects and music featured in this podcast episode are royalty-free and not copyrighted. We have obtained these materials from sources that allow their use for commercial and non-commercial purposes without the need for additional licensing or permissions.

When Larry Hicks, a 44-year-old retired cement mixer, decided to venture down to the seedy Motel Drive in Fresno, California, he certainly wasn’t mixing with a professional crowd. 

In an area known for its dubious reputation, Hicks negotiated a price with a local escort and eased his truck into a secluded area—an abandoned lot strewn with discarded condoms, syringes, and used underwear. There, they would find themselves stumbling upon something shocking. 

Hidden behind a hulking piece of rusting farm equipment, the lifeless body of a scantily clad woman, brutally stabbed and bludgeoned, lay face up in the dirt. This woman was Jill Ann Weatherwax, an aspiring singer, socialite, and former Miss Hollywood. The grim discovery would rock the city of Fresno, and the subsequent 3 month investigation would lead to a 25 year quest for answers. 

Who killed Jill Ann Weatherwax?

I’m Faith Bernadette, and this is Drop Dead Gorgeous.

***

🚓 Fresno Police Department:
(559) 621-7000

⭐️ The SAFE Project: 
https://www.safeproject.us

📲 SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-4357


📊 Links/Sources:
https://trmoblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/the-life-and-death-of-miss-hollywood.pdf

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-09-mn-47941-story.html

https://morbidology.com/who-killed-miss-hollywood-the-unsolved-murder-of-jill-ann-weatherwax/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/15131596/1999_jill_ann_weatherwax_shitty_fresno/

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Instagram: @dropdeadgorgpod @faithbouu
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DISCLAIMER:
All sound effects and music featured in this podcast episode are royalty-free and not copyrighted. We have obtained these materials from sources that allow their use for commercial and non-commercial purposes without the need for additional licensing or permissions. 

An investigative look into the beauty world's most shocking crimes, hosted by Faith Bernadette.

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