The police receive a tip-off, but the Chameleon Killer evades capture. Another lead takes them to her doorstep, and the search for Elaine Parent intensifies. This three-part documentary, airing on True Crime, examines the global crime spree of a serial con artist and murderer who stole over 20 identities.
The episode reveals how Parent, known as “the world’s most wanted woman,” outsmarts authorities and travels undetected, taunting police. The documentary examines her case and the impact on her victims. It explores the murder of Beverly McGowan, a 34-year-old bank clerk who placed an ad for a roommate, only to be answered by Parent under the alias of “Alice.” McGowan’s mutilated remains were found in a rural Florida canal, with her hands severed and a tattoo cut from her stomach.
Elaine Antoinette Parent, an American criminal, earned the moniker “The Chameleon Killer” due to her ability to assume multiple identities. She conned people out of personal information and money, leaving a trail of acquaintances, friends, and strangers in her wake. Parent was linked to the murder of Beverly McGowan, with forensic evidence and handwriting analysis pointing towards her. Despite being arrested in 1991 with multiple aliases, she managed to avoid charges and remain at large.
The authorities finally located Parent in Panama City, Florida, in 2002, after her case featured on “America’s Most Wanted.” However, she again slipped away, taking her own life with a .357 Magnum.
The Hunt for the Chameleon Killer, Episode 3, airs on True Crime, 17 September 2024, at 10:00 p.m.
