About Ted Bundy
Ted Bundy, born Theodore Robert Bundy on November 24, 1946, in Burlington, Vermont, is one of the most infamous serial killers in American history.
Known for his charm, intelligence, and good looks, Bundy used these traits to lure his victims, primarily young women, during the 1970s. His crimes spanned multiple states, including Washington, Utah, Colorado, and Florida, and his modus operandi involved feigning injuries or impersonating authority figures to gain his victims’ trust.
Bundy’s heinous acts shocked the nation and left a lasting impact on criminal profiling and public awareness of serial killers.
NAME: Ted Bundy
BORN: November 24, 1946
DIED: 24 Jan 1989
COUNTRY: USA
VICTIMS: 20 confirmed and 30 confessed.
CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS: First-degree murder (×3), Attempted first-degree murder (×3), Aggravated kidnapping, Burglary
IMPRISONED AT: Was imprisoned at Florida State Prison, Starke, FLA
WHERE IS Ted Bundy NOW?
- Received 3x death sentences
Ted Bundy was executed on January 24, 1989, in Florida’s electric chair.
He was sentenced to death for the murders of two Chi Omega sorority sisters and a 12-year-old girl, Kimberly Leach. In the years leading up to his execution, Bundy confessed to numerous other murders, often providing gruesome details to investigators and journalists. His confessions were seen as an attempt to delay his execution, but they ultimately did not save him.
His execution came after more than a decade of legal battles. Since his death, Bundy’s story has continued to captivate public interest, with numerous documentaries, books, and films exploring his life and crimes.
In October 1984, Bundy contacted Robert D. Keppel (an American law enforcement officer and detective) and offered to share his self-proclaimed expertise in serial killer psychology in the ongoing hunt in Washington for the “Green River Killer,” later identified as Gary Ridgway. Keppel and Green River Task Force Detective Dave Reichert interviewed Bundy, but Ridgway remained at large for a further seventeen years. [1]
In recent years, the release of Netflix’s docuseries ‘Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes’ (2019) and the film ‘Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile’ (2019), starring Zac Efron as Bundy, reignited fascination with his case. These works delve into his psychology, the investigation, and the impact on his victims’ families.
- 24 Jan 1989: Executed in Florida’s electric chair
[1} Rule, A. (2000). The Stranger Beside Me. W. W. Norton & Company.
CRIMES COMMITTED
Bundy’s exact number of victims remains unknown, but he confessed to 30 homicides committed between 1974 and 1978. His victims were primarily young women, often college students, whom he targeted for their physical appearance. Some of his most notorious crimes include the 1974 assault on women at Washington’s Lake Sammamish State Park, the 1975 murders in Utah, and the 1978 Chi Omega sorority house massacre in Florida. Bundy’s methods were brutal; he often bludgeoned, strangled, or sexually assaulted his victims. He also engaged in necrophilia, adding to the horror of his crimes (Rule, 2000; Michaud & Aynesworth, 1989).
Below is a list of confirmed and suspected victims, organized by state and timeline, based on investigations, confessions, and evidence:
Confirmed and Suspected Victims of Ted Bundy:
Washington State (1974)
1. Joni Lenz (survived) – Bundy’s first known attack occurred in January 1974 in Seattle. Lenz was bludgeoned in her bed but survived.
2. Lynda Ann Healy – A 21-year-old University of Washington student who disappeared from her basement apartment in February 1974.
3. Donna Gail Manson – A 19-year-old Evergreen State College student who vanished in March 1974.
4. Susan Elaine Rancourt – An 18-year-old Central Washington University student who disappeared in April 1974.
5. Roberta Kathleen Parks – A 22-year-old Oregon State University student who went missing in May 1974.
6. Brenda Carol Ball – A 22-year-old woman last seen at a tavern near Seattle in June 1974.
7. Georgeann Hawkins – An 18-year-old University of Washington student who disappeared in June 1974.
8. Janice Ott – A 23-year-old woman abducted from Lake Sammamish State Park in July 1974.
9. Denise Naslund – A 19-year-old woman abducted from Lake Sammamish State Park on the same day as Janice Ott.
Utah (1974–1975)
10. Nancy Wilcox – A 16-year-old high school student who disappeared in October 1974.
11. Melissa Smith – The 17-year-old daughter of Midvale’s police chief, abducted and murdered in October 1974.
12. Laura Aime – A 17-year-old who disappeared in October 1974.
13. Carol DaRonch (survived) – A 18-year-old woman who escaped Bundy’s abduction attempt in November 1974.
14. Debbie Kent – A 17-year-old high school student who disappeared in November 1974.
Colorado (1975)
15. Caryn Campbell – A 23-year-old nurse who disappeared from a ski resort in January 1975.
16. Julie Cunningham – A 26-year-old woman who vanished in March 1975.
17. Denise Oliverson – A 25-year-old woman who disappeared in April 1975.
Florida (1978)
18. Margaret Bowman – A 21-year-old Florida State University student murdered in the Chi Omega sorority house in January 1978.
19. Lisa Levy – A 20-year-old Florida State University student murdered in the Chi Omega sorority house on the same night.
20. Karen Chandler (survived) – A 21-year-old Chi Omega sorority sister who survived Bundy’s attack.
21. Kathy Kleiner (survived) – Another Chi Omega sorority sister who survived the attack.
22. Cheryl Thomas (survived) – A 21-year-old woman attacked in her apartment shortly after the Chi Omega murders.
23. Kimberly Leach – A 12-year-old girl abducted from her school in February 1978, marking Bundy’s youngest known victim.
Bundy confessed to 30 murders, but investigators believe the actual number could be higher due to gaps in his timeline and unidentified remains. His victims ranged in age from 12 to 26, and many of their bodies were never recovered. Bundy often revisited his crime scenes to engage in necrophilia, adding to the horror of his actions (Rule, 2000; Michaud & Aynesworth, 1989).
CAPTURE & INVESTIGATION
Bundy’s capture was the result of a combination of his own arrogance and meticulous police work. He was first arrested in Utah in 1975 for attempted kidnapping but managed to escape custody twice—once in Colorado and again in Florida. His final capture occurred in February 1978 in Pensacola, Florida, after a routine traffic stop revealed his stolen vehicle and fake identification. By this time, law enforcement had connected Bundy to multiple murders across several states, and his pattern of behavior had become clear. His capture marked the end of a nationwide manhunt and the beginning of a highly publicized legal battle (Kendall, 1981; Rule, 2000).
Ted Bundy used several aliases throughout his criminal activities and escapes. These aliases were often employed to evade law enforcement, gain the trust of his victims, or create false identities. Some of his known aliases include:
1. Chris Hagen – One of the most frequently used aliases, particularly during his time in Utah and Colorado. He used this name to rent apartments and interact with people without raising suspicion (Rule, 2000).
2. Kenneth Misner – Another alias Bundy used, often in conjunction with fake IDs or stolen credit cards (Michaud & Aynesworth, 1989).
3. Rolf Miller – This alias was used during his time on the run, particularly after his escapes from custody (Kendall, 1981).
4. Richard Burton – Bundy used this name to create a false identity, often blending into communities without drawing attention (Rule, 2000).
5. Officer Roseland – Bundy occasionally impersonated a police officer or authority figure, using this alias to gain the trust of his victims (Michaud & Aynesworth, 1989).
Bundy’s ability to adopt different personas and aliases was a key part of his modus operandi, allowing him to manipulate and deceive both his victims and law enforcement. His charm and intelligence made these aliases all the more effective, contributing to his ability to evade capture for years (Kendall, 1981; Rule, 2000).
TRIAL & CONVICTIONS
Bundy’s trial for the Chi Omega murders in Florida was one of the first nationally televised trials in U.S. history, drawing widespread media attention. Representing himself, Bundy attempted to manipulate the court and the jury, but the overwhelming evidence against him led to his conviction. He was sentenced to death for the murders of two Chi Omega sorority sisters and a 12-year-old girl, Kimberly Leach. In the years leading up to his execution, Bundy confessed to numerous other murders, often providing gruesome details to investigators and journalists. His confessions were seen as an attempt to delay his execution, but they ultimately did not save him. On January 24, 1989, Ted Bundy was executed, leaving behind a legacy of terror and a cautionary tale about the dangers of underestimating evil (Kendall, 1981; Michaud & Aynesworth, 1989).
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REFERENCES / CITATIONS:
1. Berlinger, J. (Director). (2019). Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes [Documentary]. Netflix.
2. Kendall, E. (1981). The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy. Madrona Publishers.
3. Michaud, S. G., & Aynesworth, H. (1989). Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer. Authorlink Press.
4. Netflix. (2019). Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes.
5. Rule, A. (2000). The Stranger Beside Me. W. W. Norton & Company.
BOOKS ABOUT Ted Bundy
The Stranger Beside Me: The Inside Story of Serial Killer Ted Bundy (New Edition)
Ann Rule was a writer working on the biggest story of her life, tracking down a brutal mass-murderer. Little did she know that the young man who was her close friend was the savage slayer she was hunting…
The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy: Updated and Expanded Edition
The inspiration for the five-part Amazon Original docuseries Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer, an updated, expanded edition of The Phantom Prince—Elizabeth Kendall’s 1981 memoir detailing her…
Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer – the inspiration for the most talked about Netflix series of 2019
Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer was born out of more than 150 hours of exclusive interview footage with Bundy himself, recorded on death row before his execution in a Florida electric chair….
The 1976 Psychological Assessment of Ted Bundy (Development of the Violent Mind)
”Do you think I killed those girls?” Ted Bundy asked me this question after we had completed the final interview. We were standing in the corridor outside my office and Ted was about to return to his cell…
TV SHOWS & DOCS FEATURING Ted Bundy
Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes
A look inside the mind of serial killer Ted Bundy, featuring interviews with him on death row.
TV Mini Series / Documentary | 2019 | 4 Episodes
NETFLIX
Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer
After nearly 40 years of silence, Elizabeth Kendall Ted Bundy’s former girlfriend and her daughter Molly share their experiences with unsettling new details about the notorious serial killer..
TV Mini Series / Documentary | 2020
PRIME VIDEO
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
A chronicle of the crimes of Ted Bundy from the perspective of Liz, his longtime girlfriend, who refused to believe the truth about him for years.
Movie / Fictionalization | 2019
NETFLIX
Mind of a Monster S1:E1 – Ted Bundy
Friends and family of some of Ted Bundy’s victims speak for the first time. Also, exclusive and shocking audio archives from the serial killer offer an insight into his mind.
TV Series / Documentary | 2019
ID
Born to kill? S2.E1
Ted Bundy, the most infamous serial killer in American history, disarmed his young, female victims with charm and good-looks before brutally killing them.
TV Series / Documentary | 2011
World’s Most Evil Killers S3.E1
The story of Ted Bundy, a suave, outwardly normal psychology graduate who admitted to killing at least 35 women before being executed in 1989.
TV Series / Documentary | 2017
Forty Eight Hours S33.E25 – Live To Tell: Surviving Ted Bundy
Three women who were attacked by the notorious serial killer Ted Bundy reveal their terrifying stories of that night, their healing and hope.
TV Series / Documentary | 1988>
Snapped: Notorious S1.E9 – Live To Tell: Surviving Ted Bundy
Four decades later people still debate whether the handsome, well-educated serial killer Ted Bundy was simply a charming con artist who luckily outsmarted the authorities or if he was a calculated genius who
TV Series / Documentary | 2017>
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YOUTUBE
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MORE ARTICLES ABOUT Ted Bundy
A selection of interesting articles about Ted Bundy, sourced and curated from around the web:
Timeline of many of Ted Bundy’s brutal crimes
ABC News | Author: Allie Yang, Gwen Gowen, Jeca Taudte, Gail Deutsch, & Ed Lopez | Feb 16, 2019
Ted Bundy’s Campaign of Terror
FBI News | Author: FBI News | 15 Nov 2013
Bundy Is Put to Death in Florida After Admitting Trail of Killing
NY Times | Author: Jon Nordheimer | 5 Jan 1989
ALL‐AMERICAN BOY ON TRIAL
NY Times | Author: Jon Nordheimer | 10 Dec 1978
TV Shows & Documentaries Youtube Links:
Forty Eight Hours S33.E25 – Live To Tell: Surviving Ted Bundy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH0XlArUDCE
Born to kill? S2.E1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xOqJLOFKnQ