Ted Bundy

Theodore Robert Bundy was an American serial killer who kidnapped, raped, and murdered numerous young women and girls during the 1970s. Intelligent, charming, and handsome, Bundy used his looks to gain victims' trust — a characteristic that made him one of the most studied and discussed serial killers in American history. Before his execution, he confessed to 30 homicides committed in seven states. [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/01/24/ted-bundy-executed-years-ago-today-he-confessed-murders-before-his-death/)

Born on November 24, 1946, in Burlington, Vermont, Bundy grew up without knowing who his father was. He attended the University of Washington and briefly studied law. He was involved in Republican politics in Washington state and was once described by his supervisor at the Seattle Crime Prevention Advisory Commission as "smart, intellectually aggressive," with a "deep sense of equity and justice."

Bundy's killing spree began in 1974 in the Pacific Northwest, where he killed at least 11 women. He developed a pattern of feigning injury or impersonating police officers to lure victims. Many of his victims were young women with long dark hair parted in the middle. He would approach women in public places, often in daylight, asking for their help. [BBC](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47042580)

After several escapes and recaptures, Bundy moved to Tallahassee, Florida, in January 1978. On January 15, 1978, he attacked four students at the Chi Omega sorority house at Florida State University, killing two (Lisa Levy and Margaret Bowman) and severely injuring two others. Three weeks later, he kidnapped and murdered 12-year-old Kimberly Leach in Lake City, Florida — his final known murder.

Bundy was arrested on February 15, 1978, in Pensacola after a police officer stopped his stolen car. At the time, authorities in several states were not yet aware of the full extent of his crimes. In custody, Bundy proved to be a skilled manipulator who studied his own case and attempted to represent himself in court, prolonging proceedings by years. [NPR](https://www.npr.org/2019/01/24/688085512/ted-bundy-electrocuted-in-florida)

Bundy was tried in Florida for the Chi Omega murders, which were prosecuted separately from crimes in other states. His trial in Miami began on June 25, 1979. Bundy chose to act as his own attorney for parts of the proceedings, cross-examining witnesses and delivering closing arguments. Physical evidence — including a bite mark on victim Lisa Levy that matched Bundy's dental records — was pivotal in securing a conviction. [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/10/us/ted-bundy-fast-facts/index.html)

On July 24, 1979, the jury convicted Bundy of two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder, and two counts of burglary for the Chi Omega attacks. He was sentenced to death. He was subsequently tried separately for the murder of Kimberly Leach in 1980 and again convicted and sentenced to death.

Bundy spent nearly a decade on death row, filing appeal after appeal. As his execution date approached, he began making confessions to detectives from multiple states, revealing details of crimes investigators had been unable to solve. He confessed to 30 murders, though investigators believe the actual number may be higher. [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/24/ted-bundy-30-years-after-execution)

On January 24, 1989, Ted Bundy was executed in the electric chair at Florida State Prison. A crowd of approximately 2,000 people gathered outside the prison, many cheering. He was 42 years old. [AP News](https://apnews.com/article/ted-bundy-executed-florida-1989)