Wayne Nance

Wayne Nathan Nance (October 18, 1955 – September 4, 1986), known as The Missoula Mauler, was an American serial killer in the state of Montana.

Law enforcement believe Nance committed at least six homicides although it is strongly suspected that he may have had many more undiscovered victims. Before Nance's death and the discovery of his crimes, some of the murders were tentatively ascribed to David Meirhofer. A native Montanan and military veteran, Meirhofer confessed to four murders and then killed himself in custody in 1974.

Life and criminal history Early life Wayne Nance was born on October 18, 1955, in Clinton, Montana, to George Edwin Nance (August 20, 1928April 4, 2004), a long-haul truck driver, and Charlene Mae Mackie (February 2, 1936April 3, 1980), a waitress. Nance lived in a motor home outside of Milltown, Montana, which is east of Missoula and was described by teachers and classmates as an academically gifted yet eccentric individual who was also a juvenile delinquent. Friends claimed that during his adolescence, Nance frequently boasted of worshipping the devil, and had even used a hot coat hanger to brand himself with Satanic symbols. He also had bragged about wanting to commit a murder before he was 19 years old. Nance graduated from Sentinel High School in 1974. Nance is suspected of killing 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 on December 24, 1984, by a wildlife photographer. The body had been buried in a shallow grave and her decomposed leg was protruding out of the frozen ground. Strong evidence indicates that Nance murdered Bachmann. Investigators found hair similar to Bachmann's in Nance's home. She had run away from Vancouver, Washington, due to conflict with her family. She was killed by three gun shots to the head. Bachmann was identified in 2006 through DNA profiling. Her cremated remains were subsequently interred.

Bachmann had been seen alive with Nance, who had "taken her in" after she was left by a trucker in the area. She used the name "Robin" and claimed to have been either native to Texas or had passed through the state. When asked by acquaintances about the whereabouts of "Robin", Nance would say "she's gone" and claimed that she had run off with a trucker or that he had put "her on a bus." Bachmann's grave was two miles from Nance's home. Nance claimed she had left the area on September 28, 1984, which was about the time she was killed. 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. Investigators believe she died between 1983 and 1985. Lucas' remains went unidentified until May 2021, and she was initially believed to be of Asian descent. Like the other Jane Does found near East Missoula, Lucas was given a name before she was identified, "Christy Crystal Creek". Based on examination, her age range was between 18 and 35 years old. She was between 4-feet-10 and 5-feet-2 inches tall and weighed between 90 and 110 pounds. Examination indicated that she most likely had a history of smoking and had many fillings in her teeth, as well as two root canals. She also had oral surgery that used characteristically Asian dental techniques, involving the screwing of a dental post into the tooth. After genetic genealogy research was conducted after a successful DNA extraction, it was learned that Lucas originated from Spokane, Washington, having disappeared from Sandpoint, Idaho during the summer of 1983. It is unknown when or why she came to Montana. Items stolen from the Shook residence were later found in Nance's home, and it was determined that Nance had delivered a new couch to Mike and Teresa Shook at their house only days before their murders. Nance asked if he could borrow a flashlight, and after Doug went with him inside, Nance struck Doug in the head, before tying up both him and Kris. Nance then stabbed Doug in the chest and left him to die in the basement. Nance forced Kris into the bedroom on the second floor to rape her.

Although badly wounded, Doug managed to free himself and load one bullet in a rifle he had been repairing. Doug caused a commotion to lure Nance away from Kris and to the top of the basement stairs. Nance and Doug engaged in an altercation, ending with Doug shooting and incapacitating Nance. Nance and the Wellses were rushed to a hospital, where Doug and Kris made full recoveries. Nance's injuries proved fatal, and he died the following day. After the incident with the Wellses, authorities investigated Nance's background and other crimes, after initially noting similarities between the Wells incident and the murders of Michael and Teresa Shook. Nance was found to be in possession of a large collection of photographs of Kris in his wallet. Some had been taken from the bushes along the route Kris would go for a jog. Others he had collated into a photo album, along with notes such as "I love you", "I am crazy about you" and "I want you to live with me."