"Even today, if you mention Wanda Beach, people immediately think murder, they don't think beach.
Wanda Beach always meant violence."
The spine-tingling second episode of 'Catching Evil' dives into the notorious Wanda Beach murders in Sydney, Australia, unravelling the shocking secrets behind the brutal slaying of two innocent teenage girls, best friends Marianne Schmidt and Christine Sharrock.
We expose the seductive yet sinister figure at the heart of this mystery. Meet Christopher Wilder, the charming monster who fled to America, leaving a trail of terror as he abducted and murdered up to 30 young women. How did this seemingly charming man become America's most wanted fugitive?
For the first time in decades, iconic Australian journalist and former Senator Derryn Hinch reveals a jaw-dropping secret about his involvement in the case. His exclusive insights could hold the key to understanding how Wilder slipped through the cracks.
Discover the chilling inspiration behind Wilder’s violent fantasies—John Fowles's novel, 'The Collector'—and how it became his twisted playbook. The eerie similarities between fiction and his real-life crimes will make your skin crawl.
Through gripping interviews and a deep dive into Wilder's troubled past, uncover how his charm hid a psychopathic double life. Witness accounts and police blunders will leave you questioning how this monster evaded justice.
This episode is packed with shocking revelations and explores why the Wanda Beach murders have remained a haunting mystery.... until now. Could this finally be the moment for justice?
EPISODE TWO:
FIRST KILLS
These haunting photographs of a windswept Wanda Beach were taken by Marianne Schmidt's older brother Hans during a visit there with Andy. It was the first time he had returned there for over half a century since the day, a week after his sister's murder, when detectives took him and his siblings back there to gather evidence.
WANDA BEACH MURDERS
The tragic murder of Marianne Schmidt at Wanda Beach left a deep emotional scar on her family, especially her younger siblings who were playing just yards away. Peter, Trixie, and seven-year-old Wolfgang were unaware of the horror that unfolded nearby, but their lives changed forever.
In 1965, Marianne and her friend Christine Sharrock’s murders shocked the nation. For the Schmidt siblings, it was a deeply personal trauma. The innocence of their beach outing turned into haunting memories and a lifetime of questions.
While Peter grappled with survivor's guilt, Trixie was devastated by the loss of her big sister, a guiding presence in her life. Wolfgang, the last to see Marianne alive, was haunted by that day. Tragically, he died young, carrying the weight of those memories.
Meanwhile, Marianne’s older brothers, Bert and Hans, stayed home to paint the kitchen as a surprise for their mother, who was in the hospital. Their act of care underscored the family’s closeness, making the tragedy even more heartrending.
The impact of Marianne’s murder stretched beyond the family, affecting the entire community. Yet, for the Schmidts, it was an intimate, profound loss that shaped their identities. Despite the years, the quest for justice and closure remains central to their hearts.
The resilience of Marianne's siblings is a testament to their enduring bond and the human capacity to navigate deep grief. Their story is a poignant reminder of the lasting effects of violence on those left behind—a story of love, loss, and the enduring hope for healing.
We Want Your Help
The impact of Marianne and Christine's murders stretched beyond their families, affecting the entire community. Yet, despite the years, the quest for justice and closure remains central to their hearts.
We invite you, our listeners, to join us in this pursuit. If you knew Marianne or Christine, or if you had an encounter with Christopher Wilder at Wanda Beach or elsewhere, your story could be vital. Sharing your experience might help bring closure to this case or support someone else who has been affected.
Please reach out to us at info@catchingevil.com Your voice matters, and together, we can shine a light on these dark memories and work towards healing and justice.
Marianne Schmidt's siblings
Derryn Hinch's Shocking Revelation:
The Dark Secret He Kept for Decades
In a jaw-dropping episode of 'Catching Evil iconic Australian journalist and former Senator Derryn Hinch reveals a scandalous secret from his early career. Known for his fearless campaigns against crime and his time in the Senate, Hinch confesses to an act he deeply regrets.
Back in January 1965, as a young cub reporter, Hinch was covering the infamous Wanda Beach murders—one of Sydney's most haunting unsolved cases. Two teenage girls, Marianne Schmidt and Christine Sharrock, were brutally murdered, leaving the nation in shock.
In a bid to secure a scoop, Hinch admits he stole a photograph of Marianne Schmidt from her home. This stolen image was published in the newspaper he worked for, a move he now describes as shameful. "I wouldn't do it today," Hinch confesses, reflecting on the pressures and ethics of journalism.
Hinch's illustrious career spans decades, earning him a reputation as a relentless campaigner for justice. He fought tirelessly for tougher sentences against paedophiles and sex offenders, even serving time for naming a paedophile priest.
His dedication to justice saw him elected to the Australian Senate, where he continued his crusade. This revelation adds a new layer to Hinch's complex legacy, showcasing the lengths to which young journalists once went for a story.
Tune in to hear more about this shocking admission and explore the chilling details of a case that still captivates Australia.
In the second episode of our gripping series, we unravel the chilling events at Wanda Beach, which we declare to be Christopher Wilder's first kill. Through exclusive interviews with key figures and a deep dive into his troubled past, we piece together the factors that led him to this notorious crime. Discover the dark path Wilder took and how his early experiences shaped his violent trajectory.
Join us as we navigate the complexities of Wilder's life, from his early years marked by trauma and instability to the shocking methods he employed. This episode offers a gripping and insightful look into how his past shaped his future crimes and the broader societal issues at play.
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Christopher Wilder's Mobility and Modus Operandi: Wilder's experience as a racing car driver allowed him to travel extensively, making him a unique and elusive serial killer. His horrific methods included electrocution, which mirrored his own experiences with electric shock therapy as a teenager.
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The Infamous Wanda Beach Murders: The brutal killings of Maryanne Schmidt and Christine Sharrock at Wanda Beach were among Australia's most shocking unsolved cases. This event marked the beginning of Wilder’s violent trajectory and remains a haunting mystery.
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Derryn Hinch's Ethical Dilemma: As a young reporter, Derryn Hinch covered the Wanda Beach case. He later expressed regret for stealing a photograph of Marianne from the grieving family to use in the newspaper, highlighting the intense media competition of the time.
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Wilder’s Troubled Past: Wilder's chaotic upbringing, marked by frequent moves and an abusive father, deeply affected him. His early behavioral issues, such as theft and assault, were warning signs that went largely unaddressed by the legal system.
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Significance of Electric Shock Treatment: Wilder was subjected to electro-convulsive therapy in his teens, a controversial treatment used in the 1960s for various conditions, including sexual deviancy. This experience influenced his later methods of torturing victims with electric shocks.
5 TAKEAWAYS FROM EPISODE TWO
SEVEN-YEAR-OLD WOLFGANG'S HAUNTING ENCOUNTER WITH A KILLER
Book extract The Pretty Girl Killer courtesy of Penguin Random House
After a short while Peter told Wolfgang to go and see where they were, and his younger brother, who didn’t need an excuse to go scampering about, ran over the dunes and saw Marianne and Christine in the distance walking along the beach. Later he would be able to tell detectives that the surfie youth he’d seen crab hunting earlier was walking between them with his hands on their shoulders.
Running to catch them up, Wolfgang got within 10 metres when he heard the youth, whose back was turned to him, ask one of the girls what her name was. Neither Marianne nor Christine replied, and Wolfgang could tell they weren’t laughing or joking as they walked along. He later said the boy appeared angry by the way he spoke and walked.
After a while, Wolfgang got restless and went searching for his sister again. He was walking up the beach, near the water’s edge, when he saw the same youth walking towards him. Wolfgang noticed he was still wearing the holster, but it was empty and there was no sign of the knife or the spear gun he’d been carrying earlier.
‘Where are the girls?’ he asked him as he drew close, but the teenager walked straight past him and completely ignored the question. Wolfgang told detectives later that the boy had been shaking.
A regression photograph of Christopher Wilder as he would have looked at 19 when the Wanda Beach murders took place.
On a windy January day in 1965, seven-year-old Wolfgang Schmidt became the only witness to a chilling crime that would haunt a nation. While playing on Wanda Beach with his older sister Marianne and her friend Christine, Wolfgang noticed a fair-haired “surfie” youth hunting crabs with a knife and spear. Unbeknownst to the children, this boy would soon lead Marianne and Christine to their deaths—and Wolfgang would be the last to see them alive.
As the group sought shelter from the sand-lashing winds, Marianne and Christine decided to take a walk, leaving the younger children behind. Wolfgang, curious and restless, ran after them and spotted the same crab-hunting youth walking between the girls, his hands on their shoulders. Wolfgang described the boy as shirtless, with greasy, fair hair and a towel slung over his shoulder.
But something felt wrong. The boy asked one of the girls her name, but neither replied. Wolfgang sensed tension, later telling detectives the boy looked angry.
Moments later, the trio disappeared into the dunes. Wolfgang fell, and by the time he got up, they were gone. He returned to his siblings, but his unease lingered. Later, while searching for Marianne, he encountered the youth again—this time without his knife or spear. Wolfgang bravely asked, “Where are the girls?” but the boy walked past him, shaking and silent.
Wolfgang’s testimony became crucial in identifying the killer, but the case remains unsolved. His innocent eyes saw what adults missed: a predator in plain sight.
Now, decades later, his story reminds us of the courage of a little boy who tried to save his big sister—and the evil that slipped through his tiny fingers.
Q: Is Wanda Beach is the largest murder investigation in Australian history?
A: Yes. In addition to being the oldest unsolved homicide case in NSW history, police have interviewed over 7,000 witnesses and there are 80 volumes of archived records.
The case took place BC - before computers - and there are 10,000 handwritten interview statements taken during the investigation.
Christopher Wilder, named as the potential killer by his estranged wife, was never interviewed.
