She stared into the eyes of a serial killer, fought a life-or-death battle in a motel room, and won — then triggered the biggest manhunt in American history. Linda Grober was just 19 years old when Christopher Wilder abducted her from a shopping mall in broad daylight. He had already murdered four women across America in three weeks. Police had his name. Nobody had warned the public. Linda had never heard of him.

What happened next in a roadside motel room is almost impossible to comprehend. He superglued her eyes shut. He electrocuted her through wires attached to her fingers and toes. He tortured and assaulted her for hours while ordering her to act like his girlfriend. And if she didn't perform to his liking, he shocked her again — then laughed. But Linda Grober did something Wilder never expected. She kept thinking. "Keep it together, sister," she told herself. "Keep your cool. Do what he says. And think."

She played dead. He loosened his grip. She jabbed her fingers into his eyes and ran — five steps to a bathroom door with a lock no thicker than a fingernail. A serial killer was right behind her. She made it. She flicked the lock. His body slammed into the door a heartbeat later. That lock saved her life.

Linda Grober's escape didn't just save one woman. It brought in the FBI and triggered the biggest manhunt in American history. Her detailed account of Wilder — his methods, his obsessions, his rituals — gave investigators everything they needed to hunt him down. Other women are alive today because a 20-year-old university student in a motel bathroom refused to die. This is not a story about a serial killer. This is a story about the extraordinary young woman who beat one.

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Hosts

Andy Byrne

Mark Llewellyn

Audio Production

Sam Blacker at The Podcast Butler - https://thepodcastbutler.com/

Artwork

Susan Armstrong

Media

Lisa at Llewellyn Communications https://llewcom.com.au/

Special thanks to Darcy Milne at Pro Podcast Studios, Sydney - propodcast.com.au

Resources

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

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: info@catchingevil.com

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Join us and support these not-for-profits:

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.