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December 6, 2017

How Bundy (Almost) Got Away With It

Linda Anne Healy at her youth | Courtesy of NY Daily News

Linda Anne Healy, a stunningly flawless young woman, was a senior at Washington State University approaching her graduation with a degree in Psychology.1 The selfless and youthful Linda spent time working with mentally-handicapped children in her spare time. On January 31, 1974, in Seattle Washington, Linda awoke at 5:30 to begin her day. Her lively and bustling day was filled with classes and activities, just as one would expect for a 21 year old scholar. She wrote a letter to a friend outlining her intentions to cook dinner for her family that very evening. But Linda Anne Healy never made it to the dinner. Reported missing, the investigation would come to find her covers drenched in blood and her bloodstained nightgown shoved into her closet.2

Later, on a cold night in Salt Lake City, on November 18, 1974, Carol DaRonch was leaving a shopping mall when she was approached by a young slender man. He proceeded to introduce himself as officer Roslyn and explained that there had been an attempt to break into DaRonch’s car.3 As he asked her to get into the car to file a police report, she immediately realized “he wasn’t who he said he was and that something really bad was going to happen,” as she later described it. He then handcuffed her and attempted to confine her. Luckily, DaRonch was able to escape this man as she saw a car approaching theirs. She was a survivor who was able to give a profile of the kidnapper.4

With DaRonch’s help, the police had solid information, but no leads came of it. Years would pass, and more murders of young women occurred in Utah.5 As the investigators in Utah frantically searched for the suspect, they started to come across some chilling observations. They discovered that there were strange similarities with the Washington state murders and their murders; the missing women had similar profiles. Also, the disappearances all took place at night. The sightings of the suspect all described a man wearing a cast or sling and driving a brownish tan Volkswagen.6 To top it off, five witnesses described the suspect as an attractive young man. With the help of the witnesses, a composite sketch of the suspect was made.

Ted Bundy at his youth  | Courtesy of Wikipedia

Then, a young man was stopped on a driving violation. The only reason that the violation aroused greater suspicion for the police was that he attempted to flee by running stop signs and turning his car lights off. His suspicious tools blatantly dispersed all throughout his car was the cause for suspicion of his connection to the murders.7 Some of these items consisted of a crow bar, pantyhose, and handcuffs. With the passenger seat missing, he was arrested for suspicion of attempted burglary. The handcuffs were compared to the ones DaRonch had described. As it turned out, they were the same pair. When the man was picked out of a lineup by DaRonch, it was confirmed that he was the suspect who had attempted the kidnapping of DaRonch. The police also felt that this man, Ted Bundy, might be responsible for the connected murders in Utah and Washington, and also others in Colorado.8

Bundy was convicted and sentenced to fifteen years in prison. During this time, police were investigating his connection to the missing women in Colorado. He had made credit card transactions near the locations where the women had gone missing. It was not too long before Bundy was extradited to Colorado for the murder of Caryn Campbell, a 23 year old nurse who had gone missing one night as she was looking to get a magazine from her room at the Wildwood Inn at Snowmass, Colorado.9 Somewhere between the hallway and elevator she had disappeared. Her body was found beaten on the side of the road in Snowmass. Awaiting his trial for that murder, Ted Bundy managed to escape prison by climbing into the ceiling light fixture. He then made his way to Tallahassee, Florida, where he rented an apartment near Florida State University under the name of Chris Hagen.10

Florida State’s Chi Omega Sorority House | Courtesy of Chi Omega House

On Saturday, January 14, 1978, Bundy broke into Florida State ‘s Chi Omega sorority house.11 He strangled two women to death, raping and ruthlessly beating their bodies. Two other women were also beaten and hit over the head with a log. These girls managed to survive to tell their story, thanks to their roommate Nita Neary, who managed to arrive just before Bundy could murder the two beaten victims. The only evidence found to prosecute Bundy was in fact a mask that was found at the site of another woman attacked that very same night. This mask was identical to one found in Bundy’s car.12 He didn’t know that he had left behind unique bite marks on his victims at the sorority house, and that these bite marks were particular to his teeth and his teeth only. Yet again, none of this would bring Ted Bundy to trial.

It wasn’t until February 9, 1978, that Bundy would have his last kill.13 Twelve year old Kimberly Leach had just been elected a runner up for valentine queen at her junior high in Lake City, Florida. Just before heading to her PE class, she remembered she had left her purse in her homeroom class. Upon being excused to run off to retrieve it, her friend was shocked to see little Kimberly running off with an angry man. Lieutenant Andy Anderson, an EMT with Lake City Fire Department, was on duty and heading home to shower and change clothes.14 Heading toward home, as he passed the Junior High, his eye caught the attention of something unusual. A white van had been stopped in the middle of the lane blocking traffic. A man was then leading a young girl from campus toward the van. In the eyes of those unaware of what was happening, she seemed to be taking off with what appeared to be an angry father. When the school called her home to ask why Kimberly had not gone to her other classes that day, her parents knew something was wrong. After not returning home, the authorities were contacted. Eight weeks later, after endless searches, her body was found in a pigpen. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled. Yet again, another similar act that tied all the murders together and pointed toward Ted Bundy.

The murder of Kim Leach and the Chi Omega investigation became linked on February 17.15 The captivating evidence was that Bundy had stayed in the Lake City Motel the very night prior to Kim’s disappearance. During this time, on February 21, an article came out with the attempted abduction of Leslie Parmenter. Fourteen years old at the time, Parmenter caught the eye of a man in a white dodge van on February 8, 1978. He struck up a conversation with her, just as Parmenter’s older brother was approaching. Angrily approaching the van, the suspect fled. The composite was an exact match to Ted Bundy. Suddenly all evidence pointed to Ted Bundy.

He wasn’t caught in one fell swoop. Rather, it took time for investigators to link the individual murders with similar characteristics in the crime scenes, as well as the sightings of him and composite sketches. This all finally led to the capturing of Ted Bundy. On June 25, 1979, Bundy went on trial in Florida for the murders of the sorority women.16 The key witness to bring him to justice was Nita Neary, who had seen him fleeing the house after the murders. In addition, the bite marks on the victims’ bodies were compared and found to be an exact match to his teeth. Bundy also had rented a room at The Oak Apartments near the Florida State University campus. All this evidence convicted Bundy, and he was sentenced to two life sentences. In January 1980, he went to trial again for the killing of Kimberly Leach. The fibers in Ted’s van were an exact match to those of Kimberly’s clothes. This was the crucial evidence that led to Bundy’s second conviction. But witnesses Lieutenant Andy Anderson and a fellow schoolmate also played a role. Found guilty, he received his third death sentence. On January 17 1989, Ted Bundy was put to death. His death could only bring so much closure to the families of the countless victims in Florida, Utah, and Colorado.17 But his death ensured that he could never have another victim for his own malice pleasures.

  1. Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia, January 2017, s.v. “Ted Bundy,” by James Jenephyr.
  2. Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia, January 2017, s.v. “Ted Bundy,” by James Jenephyr.
  3. George Dekle, The Last Murder: The investigation, prosecution, and execution of Ted Bundy (Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger, 2011), 45.
  4. George Dekle, The Last Murder: The investigation, prosecution, and execution of Ted Bundy (Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger, 2011), 47.
  5. J. Anthony Paredes and Elizabeth D. Purdum, “Bye-bye Ted…Community response in Florida to the execution of Theodore Bundy,” Anthropology Today 6, no. 2 (April 1990): 10.
  6. J. Anthony Paredes and Elizabeth D. Purdum, “Bye-bye Ted…Community response in Florida to the execution of Theodore Bundy,” Anthropology Today 6, no. 2 (April 1990): 11.
  7. George Dekle, The Last Murder: The investigation, prosecution, and execution of Ted Bundy (Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger, 2011), 45.
  8. George Dekle, The Last Murder: The investigation, prosecution, and execution of Ted Bundy (Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger, 2011), 45.
  9. Mark Seltzer, “Serial Killers (II): The Pathological Public Sphere,” Critical Inquiry 22, no. 1 (1995): 136.
  10. Mark Seltzer, “Serial Killers (II): The Pathological Public Sphere,” Critical Inquiry 22, no. 1 (1995): 132.
  11. J. Anthony Paredes and Elizabeth D. Purdum, “Bye-bye Ted…Community response in Florida to the execution of Theodore Bundy,” Anthropology Today 6, no. 2 (April 1990): 11.
  12. J. Anthony Paredes and Elizabeth D. Purdum, “Bye-bye Ted…Community response in Florida to the execution of Theodore Bundy,” Anthropology Today 6, no. 2 (April 1990): 11.
  13. George Dekle, The Last Murder: The investigation, prosecution, and execution of Ted Bundy (Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger, 2011), 46.
  14. George Dekle, The Last Murder: The investigation, prosecution, and execution of Ted Bundy (Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger, 2011), 46.
  15. George Dekle, The Last Murder: The investigation, prosecution, and execution of Ted Bundy (Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger, 2011), 46.
  16. George Dekle, The Last Murder: The investigation, prosecution, and execution of Ted Bundy (Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger, 2011), 47.
  17. George Dekle, The Last Murder: The investigation, prosecution, and execution of Ted Bundy (Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger, 2011), 46.

Tags from the story

Serial Killers

Ted Bundy

Recent Comments

Mariah Garcia

When I hear the name ‘Ted Bundy’ I automatically think, “the serial killer?” Isn’t it sad for a name to cause such anger. I have heard about his cruel and mischievous crimes and how he negatively affected many people. What surprised me was how he was able to get away with his crimes for the long period that he did. Or how they didn’t have the evidence to give him a trial; even though they had from his teeth marks down to the suspicious supplies in his car. I learned something new about Ted Bundy; very good article.

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18/08/2018

10:16 am

Roman Olivera

The name Ted Bundy is a name is that automatically links thought to the words serial killer. It seems we all know the name, but this article helps us see the nature of his crimes and the psychopathic behavior that eventually got him caught and convicted of the murders and attacks that he was sentenced to death for. I think something that really stands out is the way Ted Bundy used his good looks and intelligence to lure his victims into trusting him in some cases, but eventually was part of what got him caught due to the people involved in his attacks being able to identify him. The links that were discovered through early forensic science of the bite marks left on his victims was particularly intriguing to me because there able to link him to crimes he might have never been held accountable for otherwise. Thankfully through the surviving victims, the eye witness testimonies and great investigative police work the bold psychopathic serial killer was arrested and put to death for his crimes.

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18/08/2018

10:16 am

Lorenzo Rivera

It is extremely difficult to comprehend exactly what goes on inside the mind of someone like Ted Bundy. When someone even mentions his name, the first thought that comes to mind is the fact that he was one of, if not the most infamous figures of the modern age, and not for any good reason. The chilling reality of what he did to his victims, and how he was almost able to walk free in society serve as a reminder of what exactly certain individuals are capable of, and how they can be driven to do despicable things, under certain circumstances. We will never know exactly what went on inside the mind of Ted Bundy, but the fact of the matter still remains, that even though he did what he did, he was still brought to justice.

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19/08/2018

10:16 am

Mariana Valadez

I had never heard the story of Ted Bundy. It is interesting to know how someone could almost get away with murder. It is scary knowing the legal system can sometimes fail and peoples lives can be in danger. It is good that they caught him and justice was served. It is scary that this is a true story and people got hurt from it.

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20/08/2018

10:16 am

Emily Jensen

The unfortunate victims of Ted Bundy had no idea of the monster that he was until their very last. Using his good looks and charm to disarm the young girls, he would attack with no remorse. It is crazy to think how long it took for law enforcement to apprehend him, even with all the evidence he would leave behind. At least we have the peace of mind that justice was served.

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23/08/2018

10:16 am

Miguel Rivera

Ted Bundy is probably the closest to who or what “the Devil” and “evil” represents. If you are more interested in learning about his way of thinking you should read “The Devil’s Defender” by the criminal defense attorney John Henry Browne, who represented Ted Bundy in his trials. He mentions that Bundy would buy mice and would play “God” in which he decided which mouse would live and which one would not. He also mentions that he would stalk women and would do the same to them, deciding who would live or die. As an aspiring Attorney I can not imagine being a criminal defense attorney for what could be some of the worst people alive. Mr. Browne also mentions that he feels partly responsible for some of the killings due to the fact that he asked to put Bundy in a cell with better conditions, which was the cell he escaped from. Great article, it brings to light the disgusting acts this man did.

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25/08/2018

10:16 am

Tessa Bodukoglu

the thought of ted bundy makes me shiver. the fact that people like him exist in the world and that I would never know if that was my best friend scares me. this article is a very well composed article and describes the victims as well as the crimes in a lot of detail. how people represent people like this in court is beyond me. I probably would not have the strength to represent someone as heartless.

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26/08/2018

10:16 am

Katherine Watson

This man was hell on Earth. He could not have been any more deceiving and devilish, to say the least. The fact that he would lure these woman by faking injuries and making himself seem like the innocent man who needs a hand is so sickening to think about. You truly never know who you can trust, and it is only getting worse in this day and age. Although Ted isn’t alive now, I genuinely think that he could have done much more harm now if he was.

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26/08/2018

10:16 am

Madison Guerra

This article is very interesting and i learned more about the infamous Ted Bundy that i never knew before. I never knew that at one point he actually escaped prison and proceeded to murder many others while he was on the run. It is scary to think anyone can be a killer and you cant really trust anybody anymore. Especially since he was described as a young attractive man.

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31/08/2018

10:16 am

Martina Rodriguez

It’s a very heartbreaking note that so many women were killed despite the help of DaRonch’s testimony and authorities cooperation. However, I’m surprised that such a meticulous killer like Bundy would commit all his crimes in the same outfit and car each time. I cannot believe the irony that he was arrested because of a simple traffic stop. I couldn’t believe that he escaped prison and rented an apartment and then committed the attack on the sorority house (an attack which I’ve never heard of before). Very heartbreaking how Kimberly could have been saved if only the bystander had reported something.

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31/08/2018

10:16 am

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