Mayville, NY – Investigators in Chautauqua County are renewing efforts in a decades-old case after receiving information about a possible sighting of suspected serial killer Christopher Wilder in Western New York.
According to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, the reported sighting occurred on Sunday, December 4, 1983—just two days before the body of an unidentified woman known as “Ellery Jane Doe” was discovered along State Route 17 in the Town of Ellery. Authorities say the timeline could be critical in understanding the victim’s final movements.
Wilder was allegedly responsible for multiple homicides across the United States during the early 1980s, including cases in New York. Investigators noted that Wilder had been connected to the state following the killing of Beth Dodge in Victor, New York. According to law enforcement, he later died in a shootout with New Hampshire State Police on April 13, 1984.
Officials say Wilder was known to use deceptive tactics to lure victims into his vehicle. In one reported encounter on December 4, 1983, a woman declined to enter a suspect’s car after recognizing behavior consistent with Wilder’s alleged methods. The suspect was last seen leaving the area on foot.
Authorities believe Wilder may have traveled through parts of Western New York, including Chautauqua County, between Sunday, December 4, and Tuesday, December 6, 1983. Investigators are asking anyone who may have encountered him during that time to come forward.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division at (716) 753-4578 or via email at Tarpley@sheriff.us.
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