Christopher Wilder was born on March 13, 1945, in Sydney, Australia. He was the eldest of four boys. Wilder's early life was marked by a series of traumatic events; he almost died at birth and nearly drowned at the age of two. When he was seventeen, he participated in the assault of a 13-year-old girl. Although he received probation, he claimed to have undergone electroshock therapy, which some believe exacerbated his violent tendencies.

In 1968, Wilder got married, but his wife left him within a week, citing his erratic and dangerous behavior, including attempts to seduce her family members and photographs of young women in compromising positions. Moving to the United States in 1969, Wilder settled in Boynton Beach, Florida, and found success in real estate. He frequently traveled to exotic locations and developed an interest in photography, converting a room in his home into a darkroom.

Despite his professional success, Wilder's criminal activities continued. Between 1971 and 1975, he faced numerous charges related to sexual misconduct but managed to avoid imprisonment. A psychologist in 1977 labeled him a "mentally disordered sex offender," warning that he was unsafe outside a controlled environment. Wilder's violent streak persisted, and during a visit to Australia in 1982, he was charged with sexually assaulting two teenage girls but was able to return to Florida due to court delays. His escalating violence set the stage for his notorious crime spree in 1984.

The first murder linked to Christopher Wilder was that of 20-year-old Rosario Teresa Gonzalez. On February 26, 1984, Rosario was last seen at the Miami Grand Prix, where she worked as a spokesmodel distributing aspirin samples. Witnesses reported seeing her leave the racetrack with a Caucasian man in his thirties. Her car was later found near Dupont Plaza. Wilder, a race car driver competing in the IMSA GTU class, was also present at the race that day.

On March 5, Wilder's former girlfriend, Elizabeth Ann Kenyon, a 23-year-old Miss Florida finalist, went missing. She had dated Wilder but turned down his marriage proposal. Witnesses last saw her at a gas station near Miami. Her car was found abandoned at Miami Airport six days later. Both Gonzalez and Kenyon were aspiring models, but their remains were never found.

Wilder's next known victim was 21-year-old Theresa Anne Ferguson. On March 18, he abducted her from the Merritt Square Mall in Merritt Island, Florida, and later killed her, leaving her body in Canaveral Groves, where it was found on March 23.

On March 20, Wilder abducted 19-year-old Linda Grover from the Governor's Square Mall in Tallahassee, Florida. After she declined his offer to model for a photography session, he attacked her in the parking lot, bound her, and transported her to a motel in Bainbridge, Georgia. There, Wilder tortured and assaulted her, but Grover managed to escape and get help. Wilder fled the scene.

In Texas and Kansas, Wilder's spree continued. On March 21, he approached 23-year-old Terry Diane Walden, a nursing student, but she initially refused his modeling offer. He later kidnapped, raped, and murdered her, dumping her body in a canal. On March 25, Wilder abducted Suzanne Wendy Logan in Oklahoma City, drove her to Kansas, and killed her near Junction City.

Wilder then moved on to Colorado and Utah. On March 29, he kidnapped 18-year-old Sheryl Lynn Bonaventura in Grand Junction. They were seen together at various locations, including a diner and a motel. Wilder ultimately killed her around March 31, near the Kanab River in Utah. On April 1, he abducted 17-year-old Michelle Lynn Korfman from a model competition in Las Vegas, killing her and leaving her body to be found weeks later.

In New York, Wilder's final spree involved multiple abductions. On April 4, he kidnapped 16-year-old Tina Marie Risico in California, then used her to help abduct another girl, Dawnette Sue Wilt, in Indiana. After raping and stabbing Wilt, he left her for dead, but she survived and managed to get help, providing crucial information to the police.

Wilder's last known victim was 33-year-old Beth Elaine Dodge, whom he abducted and killed in New York. He then fled to Boston, where he bought Risico a ticket to Los Angeles before continuing north. In New Hampshire, on April 13, Wilder's run came to an end. During an attempt to arrest him, a struggle ensued, and he was shot and killed.

Wilder's death revealed more about his crimes. Among his possessions was a copy of "The Collector" by John Fowles, a novel about a man who keeps a woman captive. Wilder's criminal activities left a trail of sorrow and loss, affecting numerous families across the country.