EPISODE FIVE:
CHEERLEADER KIDNAPPED
As we delve deeper into the case of Christopher Wilder, the serial killer who has already claimed the life of Rosario Gonzalez, we're met with a new and devastating development: the disappearance of 23-year-old Elizabeth Kenyon. In this gripping episode, we explore the events surrounding Beth's vanishing, and the catastrophic clash between private detective Ken Whittaker and veteran homicide detective Ray Nazario.
Beth, a stunning school teacher and part-time model, had briefly dated Wilder, but turned down his sudden marriage proposal. Eight days after Rosario's disappearance, Beth vanished, leaving her family frantic with worry. Whittaker, hired by Beth's desperate parents, is convinced that Wilder is the killer and urges the police to question him. However, Nazario, who has a reputation for being stubborn, is skeptical of Whittaker's evidence and refuses to bring Wilder in for questioning.
As the tension between Whittaker and Nazario escalates, we're left wondering: will their clash hinder the investigation and allow Wilder to continue his killing spree? Whittaker, convinced that Nazario is "coasting to retirement," is furious that the detective won't listen to his evidence. Nazario, on the other hand, is adamant that Whittaker's interference has contaminated the investigation and compromised any potential evidence.
As we hear from Beth's loved ones, including her brother Tim, who remembers her as a kind and caring person, we're reminded of the devastating consequences of Wilder's actions. But with the police and Whittaker at odds, it seems that justice may be further away than ever.
Meanwhile, the backdrop of South Florida's dark underbelly – a world of warring drug cartels and corrupt police – adds an extra layer of complexity to the case. With the Metro-Dade homicide unit still reeling from a recent scandal, it's clear that nothing is as it seems. Will Whittaker and Nazario be able to put aside their differences and work together to bring Wilder to justice, or will their rivalry allow the killer to continue his deadly rampage? The investigation is unraveling, and time is running out for the next victim.
Early modelling photograph of Elizabeth 'Beth' Kenyon
INSIDE THE CLASH THAT ALLOWED A SERIAL KILLER TO GO ON THE RAMPAGE
Miami Dade Homicide Detective RAY NAZARIO
"He fled you know, and I didn't like that because the Whittakers shouldn't have said what they did. that, Hey, this is a suspect and they just went ahead and did everything and boom, I mean, they scared the guy, you know?
Remember now, at this point I'm working a missing person case, with the suspicion that there might be foul play.
You know, I'm stubborn as hell. If I don't see it myself I can't tell you something. I don't even like speculating. I had an old Sergeant in homicide that said 'In any case, you can have as many suspects as you want. But you're spreading yourself out like horse manure.' He said, 'be sure. Don't go this guy is a suspect. Keep your cards close to your chest.'
So now, I'm thinking, here's a young girl, a beautiful young girl, at the airport. Did she get there with some beau and just leave? You think of all this stuff.
Metro-Dade Senior Homicide Detective Ray Nazario was given the Beth Kenyon case when she was a missing person.
Ken Whittaker and his father Ken Whittaker Snr. Also Whittaker's private notes of his investigation linking Wilder to Beth Kenyon's disappearance.
Miami Private Eye KEN WHITTAKER:
"I called Ray Nazario, the cop handling the Kenyon case and he said Ken, there’s no fucking evidence of foul play, what are you doing. I said I’m telling you I have an eyewitness. I said just humour me, go and see Ricky at the gas station, I’ll give you the picture, he violated probation. I’m not telling you how to do your job, you’ve been on the job for twenty-something years and I was only in for a couple of years, but I’m telling you I’ve done enough investigations, bring him in on probation violation and then say by the way tell me about Beth Kenyon. That’s the hook you bring him in on.
Then he started to get really pissy saying I’ll fucking yank your licence. I said Ray, if you’re going to scare me on that, once again you know who my old man is, I’m not doing anything illegal.
A BROTHER'S LOVE:
REMEMBERING BETH
Tim Kenyon’s memories of his sister, Beth, are a beautiful tapestry of love, laughter, and longing. As he reflects on their time together, he paints a vivid picture of a young woman whose inner beauty shone just as brightly as her outward charm. “She had a way about herself to be immediately noticed when she walked into a room,” he recalls, highlighting her radiant smile that could light up anyone’s day. Beth wasn’t just the quintessential big sister; she was Tim’s protector and confidante, always including him in her adventures despite their age difference.
Growing up, Tim cherished every moment spent with Beth, from playful teasing to summer days at the pool. “I remember playing catch in the front yard and swimming together,” he reminisces, capturing their spirited bond. However, the joy of their childhood was abruptly shattered when Beth vanished in March 1984, last seen with the notorious serial killer Christopher Wilder. The loss left an indelible mark on Tim and their family, depriving them of the future they envisioned for Beth—a future filled with love, family, and laughter.
As he grapples with the heartache, Tim often imagines what Beth’s life would have been like today. He envisions her as a loving mother and grandmother, perhaps coaching cheerleading and spreading joy to those around her. “She would have loved my three beautiful children,” he muses, expressing a bittersweet wish that they could have known her warmth.
The pain of losing Beth has shaped Tim’s life in profound ways. He acknowledges the challenges their family faced in the wake of her disappearance, recognizing how it led them down separate paths of healing. “We never discussed this event together in unity,” he reflects, revealing the silent struggles that lingered long after her absence. Tim's journey through grief has been complex, with feelings of resentment and unresolved pain surfacing throughout his life.
Despite the darkness surrounding her disappearance, the love Tim has for Beth remains a guiding light. He chooses to honor her memory through forgiveness, understanding that holding onto anger only perpetuates the pain. “Forgiveness is freeing your mind of the hate,” he says, embodying a wisdom that comes from years of reflection.
Beth Kenyon’s spirit lives on in the hearts of those who loved her, and Tim continues to carry her memory with him. He finds solace in the small signs that remind him of her presence, from the birth of his twin daughters on Beth’s birthday to moments of connection that feel almost divine. “I know she’ll be the first person coming to me and simply say, ‘I love you and oh how much I’ve missed you so dearly,’” he concludes, a testament to the unbreakable bond between a brother and his beloved sister. In every memory and every tear, Tim Kenyon keeps Beth alive, ensuring that her legacy of love and kindness will never be forgotten.
Beth Kenyon
Tim Kenyon
BLISSFULLY UNAWARE: SHE DATED A SERIAL KILLER AND TURNED DOWN HIS MARRIAGE PROPOSAL
Elizabeth Ann Kenyon, fondly known as Beth, was a vibrant 23-year-old who captivated everyone with her classic beauty and warm heart. With her long brown curls, hazel eyes, and graceful elegance, Beth was both feminine and athletic. Her parents Bill and Dolores, owned a string of convenience stores in New York but Beth embraced independence from an early age, refusing financial help and following her own path.
After graduating from the University of Miami, Beth pursued her passion for teaching students with special needs in Coral Gables, Miami. Her dedication and compassion shone through as she volunteered as a teacher’s aide and coached the school cheerleading team. Despite the challenges, including saving a suicidal student and comforting a girl who had been assaulted, Beth remained committed to her students.
Alongside her teaching, Beth dabbled in modelling, having been an Orange Bowl Princess and runner-up in the Miss Florida pageant. It was during this time that she met Christopher Wilder at a beauty pageant. Their relationship was brief but memorable, captured above right in a photograph showing them together at the races. Wilder, the last person seen with Beth before her disappearance, proposed marriage unexpectedly. Beth declined and Wilder took it badly.
Book extract The Pretty Girl Killer courtesy of Penguin Random House
"When her ex-boyfriend Chris Wilder had rung her to say there was a well-paid modelling shoot, if she was interested, she’d accepted in a heartbeat. She’d first met Chris at the Miss Miami beauty pageant when he’d offered to do a photo shoot with her and then taken her out to dinner at a French restaurant near her parents’ weekend place in Pompano.
They’d chatted about surfing and Australia while they ate crepes. Afterwards, he’d driven her home and she’d told him she’d really enjoyed herself. He’d been the perfect gentleman, she’d
told her mother. They went on a few more casual dates, including a day out watching him race and a meal with his business partner, Kimbrell, and Kimbrell’s wife.
Then, out of the blue, he’d shocked her by proposing marriage. She’d let him down as gently as she could. ‘I’ve never even kissed the guy and he asked me to marry him,’ she told her mother in amazement.
Although things had been a little awkward between Beth and Wilder for the past year since she’d rejected his marriage proposal, Beth had welcomed his modelling offer as a nice distraction. She
didn’t know any more details, as Chris said he would tell her more when they met up."
5 TAKEAWAYS FROM
EPISODE FIVE
1. Elizabeth Kenyon's Disappearance: 23-year-old school teacher and part-time model Elizabeth Kenyon vanished eight days after Rosario Gonzalez's disappearance, and her family hired private detective Ken Whittaker to investigate. Whittaker quickly became convinced that Christopher Wilder was the killer, but the police were slow to act.
2. Clash between Whittaker and Nazario: Private detective Ken Whittaker and veteran homicide detective Ray Nazario clashed over the investigation, with Whittaker urging Nazario to question Wilder and Nazario refusing to listen. Their disagreement hindered the investigation and allowed Wilder to continue his killing spree.
3. Wilder's Motive: Elizabeth Kenyon's rejection of Christopher Wilder's marriage proposal may have triggered his violent response, as Whittaker suspected that Wilder was motivated by a desire for revenge against women who rejected him. Wilder's ego and need for control may have driven him to commit further crimes.
4. Corruption and Incompetence: The investigation was complicated by the recent scandal in the Metro-Dade homicide unit, which had led to the jailing of four detectives for corruption and the transfer of nine others. This backdrop of corruption and incompetence added to the sense of urgency and frustration in the case.
5. The Investigation Unravels: As the episode ends, the investigation is in disarray, with Whittaker and Nazario at odds and Wilder still on the loose. The stage is set for further tragedy and tension, as the police and Whittaker struggle to catch the killer before he strikes again.
Q: Was Christopher Wilder in violation of his parole by racing at the 1984 Miami Grand Prix meeting?
A: Yes. In 1980 Wilder pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual battery on a 16-year-old girl he lured away from the Palm Beach Mall.
He was given five years' probation and wasn’t allowed leave Palm Beach County without permission, which he didn't get to race in Miami.
Above: Beth and her older brother William who staked out Wilder's home with his father and a loaded gun. He thought about using it to threaten the serial killer into giving up his sister's whereabouts but his father talked him out of it.
Left: Beth's car keys and hairbrush were found by police when they recovered Wilder's briefcase
