Wayne Nance

Wayne Nance

Victim Marcella Bachmann (left) alongside Nance
Born Wayne Nathan Nance
(1955-10-18)October 18, 1955
Died September 6, 1986(1986-09-06) (aged 30)
Missoula, Montana, U.S.
Cause of death Gunshot wounds
Other names Missoula Mauler
Killings
Victims 5+
State(s) Montana, United States

Wayne Nathan Nance (also known as the Missoula Mauler, 18 October 1955 – 6 September 1986) was a suspected American serial killer native to Montana.[1][2]

Nance was killed by a gun shot to his head in 1986. He had never been tried or convicted of any murder.[3][4][5][6]

Murders

1970s

Nance is believed to have murdered Donna Pounds in 1974. Pounds had been shot and was held captive in her basement with her body tied to a chair. Nance was seen in the back yard about the time of Pound's death. He also apparently had evidence of the crime in his home.[2][4]

In 1979, the badly decomposed body of Devonna Nelson, 14, was discovered. Because of the condition of the body, she was not identified until 2009. Prior to her identity being confirmed, she was dubbed "Betty Beavertail." [2][4]

1980s

The body of Marcella Cheri "Marci" Bachmann, 16, was found in an advanced state of decomposition on December 24, 1984, by a hiker. The body had been buried in a shallow grave.[7] Strong evidence indicates that Nance murdered Bachmann; hair belonging to her was found at his house. She had run away from Vancouver, Washington, due to conflict with her family members.[8] Like Devonna Nelson, she was given a nickname, "Debbie Deer Creek," before her body was identified. She was killed with three gun shots to the head.[2] Her brother, Derek Bachmann, had been searching for Marcella since he was 21 years old, along with a private investigator. He originally believed that she may have supported herself as a prostitute while away from home and may have become a victim of Gary Ridgway. Ridgway murdered at least 49 runaway children and prostitutes during the 1980s and 1990s. However, Marcella was never identified as one of his victims.[8][4]

Bachmann was identified in 2006 through DNA profiling. Her cremated remains were subsequently interred.[9]

On September 9, 1985, the skeleton of a Japanese or mixed-Asian woman, nicknamed "Christy Crystal Creek," was found in Missoula, Montana, with two .32 caliber bullets in the skull. Investigators believe she died between 1983 and 1985.[1][3][10][11] Her identity has never been established.[2][4]

It is possible that Nance is also responsible for the 1985 murders of Michael and Teresa Shook, who were tied up inside their home and shot. The killer then attempted to destroy evidence by burning the house down. The couple's children survived the crime.[4]

Death

On September 6, 1986, Nance entered the home of Doug and Kris Wells, tried to murder them, and was himself killed. He was shot in the head by Doug Wells, who had survived a stab wound to his chest. His wife also survived.[2][4][7]

References

  1. 1 2 Wetsch, Elizabeth (2005). "Nance, Wayne Nathan". Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Wayne Nance (1955–1986)". Missoula County Sheriff Department. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Case File 3UFMT". The Doe Network. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Withrow, Ian. "Christy Crystal Creek and the Missoula Mauler". Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  5. ↑ Moore, Michael (30 April 2006). "In search of Christy's true identity". Independent Record. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  6. ↑ "Wayne Nance". Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Marcella "Marci" Cheri Bachman". Center for Human Identification. Archived from the original on July 13, 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  8. 1 2 Larabee, Mark (24 April 2006). "After years of searching, man puts his sister, mystery to rest.". The Origin. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  9. ↑ "Identified – Marcella Bachmann: Washington State to Montana". 7 December 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  10. ↑ "Serial Killer Wayne Nance and the Case of "The Montana Jane Doe's"". 6 March 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  11. ↑ "ViCAP ALERT: UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN REMAINS" (PDF). Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
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