Ted Bundy's Killing Spree Timeline

On August 31, 1961, Bundy was 14. He killed an 8-year-old.Ann Marie Burr.Ann Marie Burr went missing from her Tacoma, WA home. Bundy repeatedly denied involvement, but many think Ann Marie was his first victim. Bundy lived nearby and delivered newspapers that morning.

In 2011, a sample of Bundy’s DNA tested. Investigators hoped this would settle the Anne Marie case. However, they found insufficient DNA at the scene to provide an answer.

Bundy’s first known attack targeted an 18-year-old.Karen Sparks.Bundy broke into Karen Sparks' apartment while she slept in January 1974. Karen survived, but she remained unresponsive for over a week and was left permanently disabled.

In early February 1974, Bundy committed his first known slaying, less than a month after Karen Sparks. He broke intoLynda Ann Healy.He broke into Lynda Ann Healy's apartment; she was a 21-year-old psychology majorand local radio reporter.Along with taking Healy, Bundy allegedly dressed her in clothes she wore the night before, even though the whole outfit was missing from her room after she had changed. Her remains surfaced a year later on Taylor Mountain with others.

Bundy allegedly dressed Healy in clothes she wore the night before. The entire outfit vanished from her room even though she changed before bed. Her remains surfaced a year later on Taylor Mountain, alongside others.

women carrying booksSummer 1974.Bundy seized several young women at the University of Washington. These women shared similar features, including long center-parted hair. Bundy used an impairment. He often wore a sling on his arm or used crutches and a leg cast. Bundy then asked women for help.Donna Gail Manson on March 12, Susan Elaine Rancourt on April 17, Roberta Kathleen Parks on May 6, Brenda Carol Ball on June 1, and Georgann Hawkins on June 11.Women asked for help to his tan Volkswagen Beetle. Bundy typically parked the car some distance away in a remote spot.

Some women escaped. They either refused his advances or grew suspicious and left. During those infamous months in 1974, however,Several women reported encounters with Bundy that day. They told detectives about a young man with an arm in a sling who called himself "Ted" and asked for help unloading a sailboat from his Volkswagen Beetle.Donna Gail Manson appeared on March 12. Susan Elaine Rancourt appeared on April 17. Roberta Kathleen Parks appeared on May 6. Brenda Carol Ball appeared on June 1. Georgann Hawkins appeared on June 11.

The Pacific Northwest slayings ended July 14, 1974.The police sometimes received 200 tips daily, including some from Bundy’s girlfriend, Elizabeth Kloepfer, and a University of Washington psychology professor.On July 14, 1974, Bundy took 23-year-old Janice Anne Ott and 18-year-old Denise Marie Naslund from Lake Sammamish State Park in Washington. They vanished from a crowded shore during the day.

Several women reported encounters with Bundy that day.These women told detectives about a young man with a sling arm who introduced himself as "Ted." He asked for help unloading a sailboat from his Volkswagen Beetle.They told detectives about a young man with a sling arm who introduced himself as "Ted." He asked for help unloading a sailboat from his Volkswagen Beetle.

By summer 1974, Bundy’s spree generated heavy press coverage. Panic and fear gripped young women in the Pacific Northwest. A sketch of the serial slayer emerged.Police released a sketch of the serial slayer.Police released details about Bundy’s appearance and car publicly. This prompted many people to come forward, naming Bundy the killer.

Police sometimes received 200 tips daily.Police sometimes received 200 tips daily.Tips included some from Bundy’s girlfriend, Elizabeth Kloepfer, and a University of Washington psychology professor.July-August 1974: Police released a sketch of Bundy.Tips yielded nothing. Bundy moved to Salt Lake City, UT, starting law school there.

August 1974: Bundy moved to Utah.Bundy moved to Utah.Bundy studied law in the Pacific Northwest while famous. Soon after, young women vanished. Bundy's Utah victims began.Bundy had Utah victims.Bundy left a hitchhiker in the Snake River; her identity remains unknown.

On October 2, Bundy ambushed 16-year-old Nancy Wilcox in Holladay, UT. Before his death sentence, Bundy pointed to the alleged location of her body on a map for investigators.Alleged location.Investigators marked the location of Nancy Wilcox's body on a map, but she has not been found.

October 18, Bundy killed a police chief’s daughter, 17-year-old Melissa Anne Smith.Melissa Anne Smith.Bundy's next known victim was 17-year-old Laura Ann Aime on October 31.

In November 1974, Carol DaRonch escaped him.Carol DaRonch escaped him.Bundy met DaRonch at a Utah shopping mall. He acted like a police officer, claiming someone broke into her car. He asked her to go to the police station, and she agreed.

Bundy tried to handcuff and subdue DaRonch with a crowbar inside his car. She fought back and escaped, getting help from police.

Bundy’s girlfriend, Elizabeth KloepferElizabeth Kloepfer reported Bundy to the police again.Kloepfer reported Bundy to the police several times. She first reported him over odd behavior in the summer of 1974, and again when women disappeared from his Utah home.

Kloepfer suspected things but stayed with Bundy. In an interview, she said:

I thought there were coincidences tying him together, but our daily life showed nothing that suggested he could do something like that.

Though based in Utah, Bundy was active in Colorado in 1975.Bundy was active in Colorado.in 1975. Women affected included 23-year-old Caryn Campbell on January 12, 26-year-old Julie Cunningham on March 15, 24-year-old Denise Lynn Oliverson on April 6, 12-year-old Lynette Dawn Culver on May 6, and 15-year-old Susan Curtis on June 28.Bundy confessed.to Curtis's murder just before his execution.

Highway Patrol officer Bob Hayward detained Bundy for the first time on August 16, 1975.Bob Hayward.Hayward took a wrong turn and found Bundy in his car outside a neighbor's house. Bundy sped away when Hayward appeared; Hayward caught up and searched the vehicle.

Hayward found handcuffs, pantyhose, a ski mask, a crowbar, and an ice pick in the car. Bundy was booked for evading a police officer, but evidence was too weak to hold him.

Officers took Bundy's Volkswagen in September 1975.This happened after he sold it.Inside the car, they found hair strands, including from Carol DaRonch—the woman who escaped.Bundy was at the shopping mall.DaRonch identified Bundy in a lineup in October.

Bundy faced kidnapping and attempted assault charges. In 1976, he was charged.Bundy stood trial.The court sentenced him to up to 15 years.

On June 6, 1977, Bundy escaped.Bundy escaped.He escaped from a courthouse in Aspen.The courthouse was in Aspen.Bundy represented himself. His handlers trusted him without restraint. Bundy asked to visit the library during recess. After the judge allowed it, Bundy jumped out the 30-foot window.

Aspen residents put Bundy on t-shirts and named food after him, joking about his disappearance. Police captured him eight days later at a roadblock on a mountain pass.

Bundy's trial resumed after he was recaptured. However, in December 1977, he escaped again.He escaped again.He escaped again with more success. The facility was short-staffed during the holiday season, so Bundy took advantage. Using a tool from a peer, he sawed a hole in the ceiling and climbed out through the opening.

Bundy ended up in the head jailer’s apartment. After wearing some of his clothes, he walked out unseen.

On January 15, 1978, Bundy hid in Tallahassee, Florida. He broke into the Chi Omega sorority house.He broke into the Chi Omega sorority house.At Florida State University, he beat Margaret Bowman while she slept. Bundy then attacked Lisa Levy. In the next room, he attacked Kathy Kleiner and Karen Chandler. The last two survived but were injured.

After leaving the Chi Omega sorority house, Bundy confronted another FSU student, Cheryl Thomas.

On February 8, 1978, Bundy approached 14-year-old Leslie Parmenter in a parking lot. He backed off when her older brother arrived. On February 9, 12-year-old Kimberly Diane Leach disappeared from Lake City Junior High School after Bundy took her.Leslie Parmenter.February 9, 1978: A 12-year-old girl was in a parking lot but retreated when her older brother arrived.Kimberly Diane Leach.Kimberly Diane Leach disappeared from Lake City Junior High School, having been taken by Bundy.

Bundy took a car and fled Tallahassee on February 12. Three days later, officer David Lee stopped him. Bundy fought the officer and tried to run, but Lee quickly caught him. Bundy reportedly wished Lee had killed him instead.Officer David Lee.Bundy fought officer David Lee and tried to run. Lee soon apprehended him. Bundy reportedly said he wished Lee had ended his life instead.

June 1979: Bundy faced trial for the Chi Omega charges. Bundy managed much of his defense. A pre-trial deal offered Bundy a 75-year sentence if he admitted to the slayings of Levy, Bowman, and Leach. Bundy later backed out of that deal.

Mike Minerva.Mike Minerva, who defended Bundy, said, "It made him realize he was going to have to stand up in front of the whole world and say he was guilty. He just couldn't do it."

On July 24, 1979, Bundy was.Bundy was convicted of two counts.He was convicted of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted first-degree murder, and two counts of burglary. Judge Edward Cowart imposed capital punishment. Six months later, Bundy was convicted of the abduction and killing of Kimberly Leach. On February 10, 1980, Bundy received another capital punishment sentence.

One final strange event occurred during the trial: Bundy used a Florida law.Florida law.Bundy asked Carole Ann Boone, who testified for him in both trials, to marry him. She agreed; they became legally married when he made a public declaration in an open courtroom with court officers that the marriage ceremony would become legal.

Nine years later, on January 24, 1989, Florida State Prison carried out Ted Bundy's capital punishment sentence.