Ted Bundy is known as one of the most horrific and infamous serial killers in American history. His haunting crimes have become a brutal and dark part of our culture’s history.
Ted Bundy’s final moments have been documented by several sources over the years. According to them, Bundy’s last words were dedicated to his “family and friends.” The murderer was not repentant but did seem quiet and his voice wavered.
The road to Bundy’s capture and execution was long and torturous for a nation on edge.
A Dark Beginning
Bundy’s life began in somewhat suspicious ways. On November 24, 1946, he was born as Theodore Robert Cowell to Eleanor Louise Cowell in Burlington, Vermont. The identity of his father was never known, with his mother saying she was seduced by a rich war veteran who then abandoned her and young Ted.
Ted was always bothered by the fact that he never knew his father and was convinced his mother was lying to him about his identity. It would be a grudge he would carry all his life and some suspect it would lead to his violence.
It was even more complicated by the fact that for much of his young life, he thought his mother was his sister. He was told that his grandfather and grandmother were his parents and his actual mother was his sister.
This complicated upbringing was just another factor that led to the troubled and confused young man that Bundy would become.
A Lust for Blood
There isn’t a definitive set time when Bundy began to murder. He claims that his first attempted kill was in 1969 in New Jersey but has also said he had already killed by then. Some law officials think he killed young Ann Marie Burr in Tacoma, Washington in 1961.
One of the first major crimes he would be convicted of occurred on January 4, 1974. That night, Bundy broke into the apartment of three women: Karen Sparks, Mary Adams, and Terri Caldwell.
Young university students in the Washington area began to disappear more often in 1974, reportedly due to a man in a sling needing help carrying books to his car. Bundy had started his killing spree and the region was terrified.
Ironically, during this time Bundy worked at the Seattle Crime Prevention Advisory Committee as the Assistant Director. He also wrote literature on rape prevention durig this period. This period in Bundy’s crime spree saw the disappearance of six women, all at night and all usually near universities.
A Move Inland
Bundy moved towards the end of 1974 to study at the University of Utah Law School. Shortly after his move, a string of new murders began.
Bundy would murder multiple women in that area of the country, including Nancy Wilcox, Melissa Anne Smith, Laura Ann Aime. He attempted the kidnapping and murder of Carol DaRonch at a mall. She was able to escape.
Around this time, Bundy’s former girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer was contacting authorities to accuse Bundy of the murders, suspecting he was responsible. Bundy’s name quickly became of serious interest to law enforcement officials.
Capture and Trial
After more abductions and murders, Bundy was finally captured on August 16, 1975, by the Utah Highway Patrol. Authorities had to chase down his car in a high-speed chase and found multiple suspicious objects in his vehicle.
They were not able to charge Bundy with crimes yet but after interviews with his ex and investigations in the Pacific Northwest, Bundy was officially arrested for a kidnapping and attempted murder.
Bundy would spend the rest of his life in prison, facing charges of various crimes including kidnapping and murders. He was wanted in multiple jurisdictions across the country and was flown all over to face charges.
Eventually, he would be sentenced to death three times for the murders. He would eventually be convicted or suspected of the deaths of 30 women.
Execution
While waiting for his execution, Bundy sat down for multiple interviews where he revealed information about his crimes without ever coming forward and fully admitting.
In his final months, Bundy would eventually confess to multiple homicides, including many he was never convicted of.
Crowds gathered the night of Bundy’s execution and it was almost seen as a national event. Bundy didn’t choose a final meal and was given a dish of steak, eggs, hash brown, and toast. Bundy didn’t eat a bite.
The LA Times attended his execution in Florida and commented on his final moments. Bundy remained quiet and calm throughout the proceedings.
When he was asked if he had any final words, Bundy said “I’d like to give my love to my family and friends.” The electric chair instruments were then placed on his body and Bundy was executed at 7:16 AM.
The death of Ted Bundy ended a long string of horrible crimes that captivated a nation and exposed one of the most haunting and engaging serial killers the country would ever know.