Real Crime/Paranormal/Conspiracy Theories Book III

The Missoula Mauler: Wayne Nance

Wayne Nathan Nance (October 18,1955 – September 4, 1986), also known as The Missoula Mauler,was an American man native to the state of Montana who was suspectedof being a serial killer. Nance was shot and killed during a homeinvasion of a co-worker's residence; thus Nance was never formallycharged, tried, or convicted of any murder. Authorities reportedthat physical evidence linked Nance to several unsolved murders andcrimes.

Murders

1970s

Nance is believed to have raped andmurdered a middle-aged woman named Donna Pounds in 1974. Pounds hadbeen shot and was held captive in her basement tied to a chair.Nance, an acquaintance of the victim's teenage son, was seen in thevictim's back yard about the time of Pounds' death and was questionedby police who could not find firm evidence linking him to the crime. Years later, police searched Nance's home and discovered evidencelinking him to the Pounds murder.

Nance served in the United States Navyfrom 1974 to 1977, and investigators later suspected he might havecommitted more crimes while traveling for his military service.

1980s

In January 1980, the badly decomposedbody of 15-year-old Devonna Nelson was discovered on a roadbank closeto the city of Missoula. Because of the condition of the body, herremains were not identified until February 1985. Prior to heridentity being confirmed, she was dubbed "Betty Beavertail"after the nearby Beavertail Hill State Park. Nance is suspected ofkilling Nelson but has not been definitively linked to the crime.

The body of Marcella Cheri "Marci"Bachmann, 16, was found in an advanced state of decomposition onDecember 24, 1984, by a hiker. The body had been buried in a shallowgrave. Strong evidence indicates that Nance murdered Bachmann.Investigators found hair similar to Bachmann's in Nance's home. Shehad run away from Vancouver, Washington, due to conflict with herfamily members. She was killed by three gun shots to the head. LikeDevonna Nelson, Bachmann was given a nickname before she wasidentified: "Debbie Deer Creek," after a nearbydrainage basin. Bachmann was identified in 2006 through DNAprofiling. Her cremated remains were subsequently interred.

Bachmann had been seen alive withNance, who had "taken her in" after she was left bya trucker in the area. She may have used the alias name "Robin"and claimed to have been either native to Texas or had passed throughthe state. Nance claimed she had left the area in September 1984,which was about the time she was killed. Her brother Derek Bachmannhad been searching for Marcella since he was 21 years old, along witha private investigator. He originally believed that she may havesupported herself as a prostitute while away from home and may havebecome a victim of Gary Ridgway. Ridgway murdered at least 49 runawaychildren and prostitutes during the 1980s and 1990s. However,Marcella was never identified as one of his victims.

On September 9, 1985, the skeleton of aJapanese or mixed-Asian woman, nicknamed "ChristyCrystal Creek", was found in Missoula,Montana, with two .32 caliber bullets in her skull. Investigatorsbelieve she died between 1983 and 1985. Her identity has never beenestablished. Christy was between 18 and 35 years old. She wasestimated to be between 4 feet 10 and 5 feet 2 inches tall andweighed between 90 and 110 pounds. Examination indicated that shemost likely had a history of smoking and had many fillings in herteeth, as well as two root canals. She also had had oral surgery thatused characteristically Asian dental techniques, involving thescrewing of a dental post into the tooth. Nance has not beendefinitively linked to this murder, but he is the only suspect.

Nance is also responsible for theDecember 12, 1985, murders of Michael and Teresa Shook in RavalliCounty, Montana, who were tied up inside their home and shot. Thekiller then attempted to destroy evidence by burning the house down.The couple's four children survived the crime. Items stolen from theShook residence were later found in Nance's home.

Death

On September 3, 1986, Nance attemptedto murder Doug and Kris Wells. Nance worked at the Wells's furnituremoving company, and engaged Doug in friendly conversation while theywere in the front yard of his home. Nance asked if he could borrow aflashlight, and after Doug invited him inside, Nance struck Doug inthe head, before tying up both him and Kris. Nance then stabbed Dougin the chest and left him to die in the basement. Nance forced Krisinto the bedroom on the second floor to rape her.

Although badly wounded, Doug managed tofree himself and load one bullet in a rifle he had been repairing.Doug staggered up to the second floor where his wife was beingassaulted in their bedroom. Nance and Doug engaged in furtheraltercations, ending with Doug shooting and incapacitating Nance. Nance and the Wellses were rushed to a hospital, where Doug and Krismade full recoveries. Nance's injuries proved fatal, and he died thefollowing day.

After the incident with the Wellses,authorities investigated Nance's background and other crimes,initially noting similarities between the Wells incident and themurders of Michael and Teresa Shook.