Elizabeth Kenyon and the Dark Legacy of Christopher Wilder

Elizabeth Kenyon was, in many ways, the complete opposite of Christopher Wilder—a man who seemed to have an insatiable need for control. Recent investigations are leaning towards the idea that Wilder may also have been linked to the notorious Wanda Beach murders in Sydney several years ago.

This striking 23-year-old was a special needs teacher, a cheerleading coach, and even dabbled in modeling. She had a brief relationship with a well-off businessman, but she made the wise choice to turn down his rather hasty marriage proposal.

Listening to her instincts paid off. She chose to move on.

But Wilder, it turns out, was not someone who dealt well with rejection.

Eight days after 21-year-old Rosario Gonzalez vanished during the Miami Grand Prix, Kenyon also disappeared. Her family sensed immediately that something was seriously amiss, and they soon came to suspect who might be involved.

In Sydney, a woman recently came forward with fresh insights regarding Wilder, which complicates the case further. Not long after the launch of a podcast episode on news.com.au, investigators received their first promising lead connected to Sydney’s infamous unsolved double murder.

Investigative journalist Andy Byrne reported that the woman reached out to the podcast’s tip line, recalling how her mother had been harassed by a then-19-year-old Wilder at the TopRide shopping center. This mall was only a short drive from Wilder’s family residence in East Ryde.

“He was always trying to get her to Wanda Beach,” the woman relayed.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., Kenyon’s worried parents enlisted the help of Miami private investigator Ken Whitaker. Within just two days, Whitaker felt strongly that Beth was Wilder’s latest victim.

Kenyon had met Wilder at the Miss Florida USA contest, where she finished fourth. In Whitaker’s judgment, the evidence he gathered painted a troubling picture. The timeline lined up, and the links became increasingly clear.

He urged Miami police to question Wilder without delay.

However, they brushed aside Whitaker’s findings, accusing him of contaminating the crime scene and compromising valuable evidence.

During this time, Christopher Wilder continued to stalk his targets.

“She had a way of entering a room that captured everyone’s attention,” Beth’s brother Tim recounted on Australia’s leading true crime podcast, *Catching Evil*.

“Her smile could light up anyone’s day.”

Andy Byrne noted that Beth’s circle watched in despair as “bureaucracy” allowed the man believed to be responsible for her disappearance to remain free.

Whitaker was outraged that crucial evidence he had gathered went unheeded. He came from a background in law enforcement, with his father having been a significant figure in the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover.

He understood the implications and knew that each hour wasted only gave Wilder more opportunity to claim another victim.

Yet police inertia prevailed. According to them, bringing in Wilder too soon could jeopardize the investigation after they deemed Whitaker’s involvement as detrimental.

Co-host Mark Llewellyn raised critical questions: “How many lives could have been saved with a more proactive response?”

“The dysfunction was systematic, not a personal failure. South Florida in 1984 was chaotic, filled with corruption and violence,” he reflected.

“Warring drug factions dominated the area, which led to a breakdown in the police force’s integrity. In such an environment, a predator like Wilder could move freely.”

His appearance—a successful, respected businessman—meant many dismissed him as a suspect simply because he didn’t fit the stereotype of a criminal.

As tensions mounted between Whitaker and law enforcement, evidence languished. Witnesses went uninterviewed, and Wilder’s whereabouts remained unmonitored.

Beth’s family implored authorities to take action, highlighting red flags early on. Their pleas fell on deaf ears.

“And all the while, Wilder was undoubtedly seeking out his next target,” Byrne said.

The podcast series revealed that Wilder frequently traveled to New York and has been implicated in many cases involving young women, many of whom he approached in Florida under the guise of promising modeling careers.

Tragically, their remains were often found near bodies of water close to Lockport, where Beth’s family still operates convenience stores.

Byrne’s team also spoke with two women whom Wilder had approached in nearby towns, showing them Beth’s portfolio.

They recounted a chilling experience, stating, “He was clearly on the hunt for his next victim when he approached us.”

Detective Ray Nazario commented on the situation, stating he felt uneasy when Whitaker’s team went public with their suspicions. While he acknowledged they weren’t alleging negligence, they felt police could have acted more decisively.

Whitaker detailed his conversations with Nazario and expressed his frustration that law enforcement dismissed him, even though he believed he had substantial evidence linking Wilder to the case.

Both Llewellyn and Byrne maintain that Wilder is intricately connected to the deaths of 15-year-olds Marianne Schmidt and Christine Sherlock, who were murdered at Sydney’s Wanda Beach in 1965. The podcast explores what they say is “irrefutable evidence.”

Episode 5 of *Catching Evil* will be available starting Tuesday.

If anyone has encountered Wilder or possesses relevant information, they are encouraged to reach out at info@catetchevil.com.

The *Catching Evil* series can be found on Apple.com and Spotify.