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Ted Bundy murders

Theodore Robert Bundy (né Cowell; November 24, 1946 – January 24, 1989) was an American serial killer who kidnapped, sexually assaulted and killed dozens of young women and girls between 1974 and 1978.

Place
Multiple locations in the United States, United States
Date
1974–1978
Status
SolvedAuthorities consider the case resolved, usually after identifying or convicting the responsible person.
Sources
2 cited sources

Updated 23 Aug 2026

Overview

Case overview

Theodore Robert Bundy (né Cowell; November 24, 1946 – January 24, 1989) was an American serial killer who kidnapped, sexually assaulted and killed dozens of young women and girls between 1974 and 1978. In 1975, Bundy was arrested and jailed in Utah for aggravated kidnapping and attempted criminal assault. [1]

For the Florida homicides, he received three death sentences in two trials and was executed in the electric chair at Florida State Prison on January 24, 1989. On February 10, 1980, Bundy was sentenced for a third time to death. In a search of Bundy's apartment, police found a guide to Colorado ski resorts with a checkmark by the Wildwood Inn, and a brochure that advertised the Viewmont High School play in Bountiful, where Kent had disappeared. [2]

Theodore Bundy aged within his 31st year, while held in custody within Florida during July 1978, 10 years and about 6 months before his state execution during January 1989.
Theodore Bundy aged within his 31st year, while held in custody within Florida during July 1978, 10 years and about 6 months before his state execution during January 1989.Unknown photographer · Public domain · View original ↗
Detailed chronology

Key events

7 sourced milestones

Major events in the case, shown in chronological order.

  1. The central incident occurs

    Bundy killed his first definitively-known victim in February 1974 in Washington, and his later crimes stretched to Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Florida.

    Source: Wikipedia ↗
  2. A major development follows

    However, Detective Jerry Thompson remembered a similar suspect and car description from the DaRonch kidnapping in November 1974, and Bundy's name from Kloepfer's phone call a month later.

    Source: Wikipedia ↗
  3. Authorities make an arrest

    As Lee transported his suspect to jail, unaware that he had just arrested one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, he heard Bundy say, "I wish you had killed me."

    Source: Wikipedia ↗
  4. A later ruling changes the record

    Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit stayed it indefinitely and remanded the Chi Omega case back to the Southern District of Florida due to legal issues, including Bundy's mental competency to stand trial and an erroneous instruction by the trial judge during the penalty phase requiring the jury to break a 6–6 tie between life imprisonment and the death penalty—which, ultimately, were never resolved.

    Source: Wikipedia ↗
  5. Authorities make an arrest

    In 1975, Bundy was arrested and jailed in Utah for aggravated kidnapping and attempted criminal assault.

    Source: Wikipedia ↗
  6. The sentence is imposed

    On February 10, 1980, Bundy was sentenced for a third time to death. This milestone is documented in the cited case overview and supporting public record.

    Source: Wikipedia ↗
  7. A central event is documented

    Theodore Robert Bundy (né Cowell; November 24, 1946 – January 24, 1989) was an American serial killer who kidnapped, sexually assaulted and killed dozens of young women and girls between 1974 and 1978.

    Source: Wikipedia ↗
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