Ted Bundy. It’s a name everyone knows. Indeed, Theodore Robert Bundy is undoubtedly one of the most famous serial killers in the world, but also one of the most prolific of the 70s. Only a few years from his execution, he will admit to having committed more than thirty murders on a period of four years. Here is the story of Ted Bundy, the serial killer who has caused a lot of ink to flow.
A chaotic childhood and the discovery of a lie
Ted Bundy was born on November 24, 1946, in Burlington (Vermont) under the name of Theodore Robert Cowell. On his birth certificate, it is noted that his father is Lloyd Marshall, a veteran of the United States Army. A few years later, his mother, Eleonor Cowell, will say that his father is a certain Jack Worthington, an army sailor. But there is no record of these two men in US Army records. Thus, many people think that Ted Bundy is actually the result of incest, and that his father is none other than his grandfather. Moreover, the latter was a hateful, violent person, hitting his wife, his two daughters, his dog. Later, Ted Bundy will even admit to identifying with Samuel Cowell.
When young Ted is only a few years old, he and his mother leave the grandparents’ house for Tacoma. They move in with cousins of Eleonor. In 1951, his mother married Johnnie Culpepper Bundy, who adopted Ted and gave him his name. Some think that Johnnie was abusing young Ted. Only, Bundy never confirmed the facts. Then 13 years old, Ted learns that he is an illegitimate child, when a cousin shows him his birth certificate. (According to Ted, he found his own certificate in 1969 when he was back in Vermont.) It was also at this age that young Ted discovered pornography (which he would say was at the origin of all his crimes). But it was also during this period that Ted began to commit crimes: burglary, voyeurism, etc.
The bewitching charm of Ted Bundy
In 1965, Teb Bundy graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and went to study at the University of Puget-Sound, then in Washington. Two years later, he met Stephanie Brooks, with whom he dated for a few months. Indeed, she will leave him, because he lacks ambition and is immature. This breakup will devastate him, and some believe that this is the trigger for Ted’s rage. At this time, Ted lived off odd jobs and volunteered for Nelson Rockefeller’s presidential campaign. A few years later, in 1972, when he left for Colorado, he obtained his degree in psychology and joined Governor Daniel J. Evans’ re-election campaign office. During this period, Teb Bundy is shown to be charming, kind and caring for others, as described by Ann Rule, who wrote her biography.
While he has a relationship with Elizabeth Kloepfer, Ted crosses paths with Stephanie Brooks again. She falls under the spell of the young man, who is more sure of himself and reckless. For some time, Ted Bundy will have a double life, one in Seattle with Stephanie, and another with Elizabeth. Then, suddenly, Ted no longer responds to Stephanie, he somehow took his revenge on the young woman. At least, that’s what she thinks. At the same time, Ted Bundy is taking law courses at the university, which he will abandon, to be deputy director of the Crime Commission in Seattle. Moreover, he will even write a prevention brochure on rape.
First murders
His first authenticated attack dates from January 4, 1974. One evening, in Seattle, Ted Bundy enters the room of Joni Lenz, bludgeoned him and sexually assaulted him with a speculum. The young woman will survive, but will have many physical and mental consequences. Ted Bundy then goes into a murderous frenzy. Indeed, a few days later, Bundy beat to death Lynda Ann Healythen Donna Gail Manson. A month later, he murders Susan E. Rancourtand in early May 1974, Roberta Kathleen Parks. The list of victims by Ted Bundy is getting longer every day. In total, he will confess to the murder of 30 women in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Colorado and Florida between 1974 and 1978.
Almost every time, Ted uses the same scheme: an arm or a leg in plaster, he asks for help from his victims, who accompany him to his light brown Ladybug. Then he strangles them, rapes them, dismembers them for some, etc. Only, he will make a mistake.
Sure enough, Bundy removes Janice Anne Ott and Denise Naslund in broad daylight. The witnesses draw a composite portrait of the man with the light brown Ladybug, Ann Rule and Elizabeth Kloepfer recognize Ted Bundy. They hasten to contact the police, but the police, receiving more than 200 calls a day, do not listen to them. On August 16, 1975, a Granger Police patrol officer arrested him. Bundy’s car, whose passenger seat had been removed, contains a ski mask, nylon tights, a crowbar, handcuffs, garbage bags, a spool of rope, an ice pick and other items originally believed to be burglary tools. Plus, Teb Bundy matched Carol DaRonch’s attacker’s robot carrier.
However, the police do not have enough evidence against Bundy, and release him. Later, Ted Bundy will taunt them by confessing that he had a series of Polaroids at his house, which he destroyed after his release.
First trial and escapes
The authorities put Bundy under surveillance, but it was not until October 12, 1975 that Ted Bundy was actually confronted with his murders. Indeed, Carol DaRonch recognizes it, and on November 20, he is released on bail. Police don’t have enough evidence to link him to the Oregon murders, but are continuing to monitor him. Bundy’s first trial opened in February 1976. The judge sentenced him to 15 years in prison for the assault on Carol DaRonch. Then the authorities link him to the murder of Caryn Campbell, so he is transferred to Colorado. He decides to be his own lawyer and, during a break, he escapes. After days of wandering the mountains, Bundy allows himself to be arrested. Then he escaped again on December 30, 1977.
While in Florida, on the night of January 14, 1978, he broke into the Chi Omega sorority house and beat four young women to death, and assaulted another. In the same night, he rapes and strangles another young woman.
The police arrest him again in February 1978. Again, Bundy decides to be his own lawyer. But the evidence against him, found in Chi Omega’s house, is overwhelming. He is convicted of all four murders. In 1980, he was also found guilty of the murder of Kimberly Leach in Orlando. A total of four execution orders will be signed against Ted Bundy. On January 24, 1989, Ted Bundy died in the electric chair. Although he was convicted of 30 murders, between 1974 and 1978, Bundy actually allegedly committed nearly 36 murders as early as the 1960s.
To go further, also discover 8 other serial killers who have marked history with their appalling crimes.
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