New DNA testing has definitively linked serial killer Ted Bundy to the 1974 murder of Laura Ann Aime in Utah, closing a five-decade-old case. According to multiple reports, authorities announced on Wednesday that they had found 'definitive proof' linking Bundy to the death of the 17-year-old girl.
Key Takeaways
New DNA testing has definitively linked serial killer Ted Bundy to the 1974 murder of Laura Ann Aime in Utah. Authorities closed the five-decade-old case after finding conclusive evidence.
- New DNA technology confirmed Bundy's involvement in Aime's murder
- Aime went missing on Halloween night and was found dead a month later near American Fork Canyon Road
- Bundy had verbally acknowledged his culpability before his execution but did not provide details about the case
Aime went missing on Halloween night after leaving a party alone and was found dead about a month later by hikers near State Road 92 in American Fork Canyon. She was bound, beaten, and without clothing. Investigators long suspected Bundy's involvement but lacked conclusive evidence until recent advancements in DNA technology allowed for the extraction of usable samples from degraded or contaminated material.
The state crime lab obtained a single male DNA profile which matched Bundy’s DNA after being submitted to a national law enforcement database, as reported by HuffPost. Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason stated that forensic investigators were able to analyze preserved evidence to select portions with usable DNA samples according to the Los Angeles Times.
Bundy had verbally acknowledged his culpability in Aime's death leading up to his execution in Florida in 1989 but did not provide details about his involvement. He was executed for the murder of 12-year-old Kimberly Leach and had bragged about killing at least 100 women. The case remained open until new DNA technology allowed investigators to extract and analyze DNA from samples even if they were small or degraded.
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