In a small town, where the most exciting event of the whole summer, or perhaps the entire year was a visit from Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton, and where the ‘Polar Plunge’ – a quick dip into the freezing cold waters of Seneca Lake – makes the front page of the Chronicle Express, you might begin to ask yourself, ‘What kind of hick town is this? Does anything exciting ever happen here?’

 But if you where to dig deeper, and do a little research, you would learn that there is in fact more to Yates County then meets the eye. More to Welker Road then I ever deemed possible…

25 years ago, serial killer Christopher Wilder, made his way across the nation, in what would be his final crime spree. Later nicknamed ‘The Beauty Queen Killer’, Wilder would visit beaches and shopping malls, in-search of prey.  Assuming the name of David Pierce, Wilder posed as a photographer, luring young girls, who had hopes of being famous models.

During the second week in March 1984, finalist for Miss Florida, Elizabeth Kenyon, disappeared. Just two weeks prior, two Miami area girls went missing. A trail was beginning to form.

Eventually, Wilder became a prime suspect. He traveled thousands of miles across the country to the western states, and made his was northeast.

By April 8^th he had made it to the FBI’s list of ‘America’s Top Ten Most Wanted’.

After abducting Dawnette Sue Wilt, 15, of Gary, Indiana, Wilder headed to Niagara Falls, New York, where he took some pictures. Learning he was a wanted man, Wilder navigated the back roads from Rochester, New York to – my neighborhood – Barrington, New York.

He left Wilt to die, after stabbing her once in the chest and twice in the back. Dawnette managed to walk to Welker Road, where Charles Laursen found her.

Wilder made his way back to Rochester. He needed to find another car. He lured a lady from her vehicle, in the Eastview Mall parking lot, and shot her to death. He had found a car.

He was almost at the Canadian Border, when two officers recognized him. In an ensuing struggle, Wilder was killed and a trooper wounded.

It was simply Providence, Charles Laursen had went to the wrong Martin farm on Welker Road that day. After turning his vehicle around, he saw the wounded Dawnette Wilt coming out of the woods.

Yes, on April 12, 1984 something DID happen here. Penn Yan was swarmed with the media. Everyone wanted to hear about the serial killer, the stabbing, and to get the story from Wilt, personally. Some even took drastic measures to do so, such as sneaking into the hospital by posing as caffiteria workers.

“You all ever get a media blitz here before? Well, you’re going to get one now!” –FBI agent

In a rural area, where not much happens, people were still in shock over the recent murder of Elizabeth Barley, whose decapitated body was discovered along the railroad tracks of the Glenora-Dundee Road, on March 10^th. Her husband was charged with the crime.

I have a feeling that if the roads of Yates County could talk, there would be many stories, happy and sad, tragic and exciting, to be told. This story, along with the recent Bucky Phillips case, and a few others have made their way into my hometown. But out of all of them, this hit the closest to home… my neighborhood, my road, the mall that I shop at, and people I know, were all involved!

The service was nice. The bride was radiantly beautiful. The groom dashingly handsome. The were meant for each other! Two Lives. Two Hearts. One Love.

Quote of the Day:
Kate: "Dallas, what is that rock for?"
Dallas: "Its my lucky rock."
Kate: "Whats so lucky about it?"
Dallas: "Its going let Kyle have a safe trip home."
I think that Dallas missed Kyle, slightly.

   Euphoria:

1. elation, exaltation, exhilaration. 

 An often groundless or exccessive feeling of well-being and happiness