True Crime: The Chameleon Killer – who was the most wanted woman in the world?

The infamous story of the Chameleon Killer, the “world’s most wanted woman” Elaine Parent, remains one of the most enigmatic and unpredictable cases in true crime history.

And now viewers can follow the twists and turns of the story in a new three-part documentary. The hunt for the chameleon killer, Broadcast from September 3rd on the free UK channel TRUE CRIME, the WATCH FREE UK streaming service and ITVX.

The hunt for the chameleon killer follows the twelve-year hunt for serial fraudster and murderer Elaine Parent, who is known to have stolen more than 20 identities during her worldwide crime spree while on the run from police in the US and UK.

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She defrauded a number of acquaintances, friends and strangers of personal information and money and is also responsible for the murder of Beverly McGowan, whose body was found in Florida in 1990.

The new three-part documentary examines the mysterious case of Parent and her many victims as she outwits the authorities, travels the world without a trace and taunts the police along the way.

What is the story of The Chameleon Killer?

Episode one begins with a murder investigation when a body without a head and hands is found in a Florida canal. A co-worker recognizes a distinctive tattoo on the victim’s ankle and identifies her as 34-year-old Beverly McGowan, a bank teller who failed to show up for work.

Police in Florida are piecing together Beverly’s last known activities and identifying a prime suspect known only as “Alice.” Beverly had met “Alice” less than a week ago after placing an ad for a new roommate. She told friends she was glamorous, about ten years older and spoke with a British accent. But now the new roommate is nowhere to be found.

The police discover that Beverly’s card was used to pay for a rental car at Heathrow Airport and lead their investigation to London. But “Alice” is already on the way and has disappeared without a trace…

Thus begins a transatlantic hunt for the mysterious “Alice,” while the police try to unravel the web of Elaine Parent’s stolen identities.

In the second episode, witness Charlie Cowan names “Ann Tremont” as a woman she met six years ago after she was persuaded to provide a copy of her birth certificate before “Ann” disappeared.

The police connect “Ann” to Elaine Parent and a previous address in London, where they find an ex-girlfriend who reveals Elaine’s short temper and her history of multiple identities.

As they retrace the steps of “Ann” and Parent, they find records of another alter ego, “Sandra Little,” in Florida, who also has a past full of deception and fraud.

As police try to quickly track down Parent, sightings are reported in England, France, South Africa and Israel. They then receive a mysterious postcard with an image of an oil painting depicting a woman resembling Parent and a creepy message on the back that reads, “Best wishes… your chameleon.”

Episode three picks up the story in 2000, as the net tightens around Parent and the final pieces of the puzzle come together.

After two appeals on America’s most wanted criminal A new pseudonym, “Darlene,” is identified – but will the Chameleon Killer finally be brought to justice?

Exciting and insightful, The hunt for the chameleon killer features contributions from Barbara Kirwin, a forensic psychologist who has served as an expert witness in many high-profile cases and written a best-selling book on true crime, and Donna Pazdera, a journalist and documentary filmmaker who has worked as a police reporter.

They investigate the disturbing case that led to Elaine Parent being named “the world’s most wanted woman,” and the shocking ending of the story is finally revealed.

The hunt for the chameleon killer is the latest original true crime program on the TRUE CRIME channel and follows, among others, The murder that changed Britain: Donal MacIntyre’s murder evidence And Murder by the sea.

TRUE CRIME offers gripping, expert-led and in-depth narratives direct from leading investigators, forensic scientists and expert witnesses. Viewers are taken on a journey from the crime scene through the investigation process and into the courtroom, analyzing key evidence along the way. Always fascinating, always true.

When and where can I see the documentary “The Hunt for the Chameleon Killer”?

The hunt for the chameleon killer Premieres on TRUE CRIME on September 3rd at 10pm. TRUE CRIME is available on Freeview (67), Sky (146), Virgin (148) and Freesat (135). The hunt for the chameleon killer will also be available to stream on WATCH FREE UK and on TRUE CRIME UK on ITVX following its linear premiere.