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The Missing

June 15, 2026 · 43 min

Show notes

A serial killer who confessed to 11 murders. A body that lay nameless in a swamp for 30 years. And a chilling new discovery.


A New York cold-case detective contacts the Catching Evil team about three more young women he believes Christopher Wilder could have murdered — bodies dumped in fields, left as Jane Does, far from his Florida hunting ground. And we reveal another bombshell: a death-row prisoner who claims Wilder confessed to killing eleven women before his rampage across America.


At the heart of it all is Shari Lynne Ball — 20 years old, lured to New York with the promise of a modelling career, and unidentified for over three decades. We trace the trail that points to her killer, including a discovery hidden in plain sight: a blitz of newspaper classified ads that fall silent every single time Wilder kills.


And we meet two women who survived him — who laughed off his modelling pitch at a yard sale, never knowing how close they'd come, until his face appeared on the FBI's Most Wanted list.

This is the episode where the net starts to widen.


We need your help with this investigation. Email us if you knew Shari Lynne or had an encounter with Christopher Wilder yourself. Or you have information about him or any of his crimes: [email protected]


Follow us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catchingevil/


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582973930611


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@catchingevil


Website: https://www.catchingevil.com/post/the-mystery-of-tina-risico-the-stunning-courage-of-dawnette-wilt




Join us, make a difference and support these not-for-profits:

US 

Survivors of Homicide Inc - https://www.survivorsofhomicide.com/

Yesterday Today Tomorrow Women Inc - https://www.yttwomen.org/

Aus

Mary’s House 1800 002 111 https://www.maryshouse.org.au/about/


Credits:


Hosts

Andy Byrne 

Mark Llewellyn


Audio Production

Sam Blacker - The Podcast Butler


Resources

The Pretty Girl Killer by Andrew Byrne - courtesy of Penguin Random House


Thanks to Pro Podcast Studios, Sydney


Catching Evil is hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information

Get in Touch

If you knew Wilder or one of his victims, contact us in confidence: [email protected]


Record a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/catchingevil


Join us and support these not-for-profits:

US 

Survivors of Homicide Inc - https://www.survivorsofhomicide.com/

Yesterday Today Tomorrow Women Inc - https://www.yttwomen.org/

Aus

Mary’s House 1800 002 111 https://www.maryshouse.org.au/about/


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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