Basic Information
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Born: 24 November 1946
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Died: 24 January 1989
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Birthplace: Burlington, Vermont
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Name at birth: Theodore Robert Cowell
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Known for: Confessing to the rape and murder of more than 20 young women
Who Was Ted Bundy?
Ted Bundy was one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. Clean-cut, articulate, and outwardly charming, he defied the public’s expectations of what a violent criminal looked like. Between 1974 and 1978, Bundy raped and murdered more than 20 young women, though the true number of victims is believed to be higher.
His crimes began in Washington State in 1974, at a time when he appeared to be leading a normal and respectable life.
A Double Life
During the early years of his killing spree, Bundy lived in the Seattle area, where he worked as a local Republican Party campaigner. Later, he moved to Salt Lake City, enrolling as a law student at the University of Utah.
Despite his involvement in politics and education, Bundy was abducting, assaulting, and murdering women—often exploiting their trust by appearing injured or harmless.
Arrest, Conviction, and Escape
Bundy was first arrested in 1975 during a traffic stop, when police discovered evidence linking him to a kidnapping in Utah and a murder in Colorado. While he was jailed in Utah, investigators in Washington and Colorado connected him to multiple disappearances and homicides.
In 1976, Bundy was convicted of kidnapping and sentenced to 15 years in prison. However, in late 1977, he escaped from custody and fled to Florida under the alias Chris Hagen.
The Florida Murders
Shortly after arriving in Tallahassee, Bundy attacked four women at a sorority house at Florida State University, killing two of them. Weeks later, he abducted, raped, and murdered a 12-year-old girl in Lake City, Florida.
His final arrest occurred when a Pensacola police officer stopped him for driving a stolen car, leading to his capture once again.
Trial, Confessions, and Execution
Bundy chose to represent himself during his murder trial, proclaiming his innocence. The televised proceedings shocked the public—many viewers struggled to believe that someone so calm, articulate, and normal-looking could be responsible for such brutality.
After being convicted and sentenced to death, Bundy began confessing to previously unsolved murders. He claimed that an “entity” inside him compelled him to rape and kill. In an attempt to delay his execution, he offered additional confessions, but the state of Florida proceeded with his sentence.
Ted Bundy was executed by electric chair on 24 January 1989.
Pornography Claim and Final Interview
On the eve of his execution, Bundy was interviewed by Christian media figure James Dobson. During the interview, Bundy claimed that an “addiction” to pornography had fueled his violent behavior—a statement widely debated and criticized by psychologists and criminologists.
Conclusion
Ted Bundy’s case remains a disturbing example of how charisma and appearance can mask extreme violence. His crimes reshaped criminal profiling and public awareness, proving that evil does not always appear monstrous.
Source: Infoplease