Rhiannon Ingle
Warning: This article contains discussion of rape which some readers may find distressing.
Theodore Robert Bundy, AKA Ted Bundy, was one of the most prolific American serial killers.
Between the years of 1974 and 1978, he kidnapped, raped and murdered dozens of young women and girls across the United States.
While he was first arrested in 1975, the killer was able to escape from prison not once but two times, giving him the opportunity to continue carrying out his heinous crimes that rocked an entire generation.
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While being investigated, Bundy claimed to police that he had taken the lives of up to 30 women, though authorities suspected the true number could be closer to 100.
Bundy was later convicted of three murders and sentenced to death.
He was executed at Florida State Prison on 24 January 1989, aged 42.
But the latest update in the chilling true crime case has seen Bundy now linked to a teenager’s unsolved murder over 50 years later.
In an official press release shared to Facebook yesterday (1 April), the Utah County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the prolific killer has now been linked to the murder of 17-year-old Laura Ann Aime over half a century ago, back in 1974.
The statement reads: "On the evening of October 31, 1974, 17-year-old Laura Ann Aime (Laura) was last seen leaving a Halloween party in Utah County.
"Witnesses claim she left alone and wanted to purchase some items from a convenience store.
"On November 27, 1974, Thanksgiving, her lifeless body was found tossed several feet from the highway, near State Road 92 in the American Fork Canyon."
According to UCSO, the teenager's body was discovered by two college students on a hike in the canyon.
"Her body was observed to be bound, severely beaten, and with no clothing. Deputies also discovered that a nylon stocking was utilised to strangle Aime and ultimately a major contributor to her death," the release continued.
The sheriff's office noted that prior investigations support that Laura's body was recently placed in relation to its discovery, suggesting that Laura was 'kept alive for several days or more after her abduction'.
"Case evidence similarities indicated that the manner of abuse and the likely cause of death was comparable to the modus operandi of Theodore 'Ted' Bundy (Bundy)," the statement declared, adding that other victims were believed and known to have been discarded in Northern Utah and throughout the Western United States, including Florida where he was apprehended, tried, and incarcerated.
Delving into the killer's psyche, the release outlined: "Bundy was believed to have acted alone and shared mental traits associated with a psychopathic serial killer who may have killed more than twenty people of various ages and gender.
"Bundy was known to utilise all types of ruses and tactics to lure in his victims.
"Although Bundy had a desired common physical female preference and attraction, he ultimately killed viciously and indiscriminately to please his desires."
"In the days and hours leading to his execution, Bundy verbally acknowledged his culpability in the death/disappearance of Laura and others," UCSO explained.
"However, Bundy would not elaborate or give any detail to his actual involvement with the deaths or abductions of the women."
At the time of his admission, the Utah County Sheriff's Department and Utah County Attorney's Office both declined to accept Bundy's verbal accountability for Laura's homicide, 'as the open Utah County case was unable to satisfactorily convict Bundy based upon the evidence in possession and with the available investigative sciences for the time'.
Per yesterday's release, the Sheriff's Department elected to keep this case open 'until investigators could prove, without a shadow of doubt, that Bundy was the composer of these heinous crimes to Laura'.
"In addition, other leads indicating additional suspects have also been considered," it added.
The UCSO statement rounded off: "Laura is remembered by her family and friends to be a tall, beautiful, outgoing free spirit who enjoyed outdoor activities and shared a passion for riding horses, hunting, and caring for her several siblings.
"Her family said that Laura was one who found joy in everything she did, making the most of her time with her family.
"Laura's younger siblings told stories of her abundant compassion and warmth for her family. An example is when Laura spent personal funds to buy candy for her brother and sisters because she enjoyed watching the happiness in the eyes of her siblings getting something sweet."
A follow-up statement added: "In 2025, as the 51st anniversary of Laura’s disappearance approached, other cold, violent, and/or stale cases were under review by Investigation's Sergeant M. Reynolds and Cold Case Detective J. Hall to initiate Cold Case assignment or the need for new case direction.
"With this specific case, it was determined that current Forensic Technology, police methods, and initially collected case evidence possessed the appearance of solvability, as Forensic science has greatly evolved in the past several years."
The release stated that Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators 'meticulously reexamined' and processed existing Utah County case evidence for items that could now be reintroduced due to the evolution of criminal forensic science, adding: "The Sheriff offered insight and gave department support to complete the new desired pathway of investigation."
It continued: "The Laura Aime case had many similarities to prior Bundy cases, however, investigations and evidence held additional discrepancies and possessed issues for the Detectives to work through.
"Existing evidence was submitted to the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services so we could utilise the various forms of advanced forensic sciences and professionals. The results were magnificent as they confirmed irrefutably that DNA evidence recovered from Laura’s body verified the existence of DNA belonging to Bundy.
"Today, the Sheriff announced the closure and conclusion of this case based on evidence confirmed through forensic science and efforts of the Cold Case Detectives, Jake Hall and Supervisor Sergeant Michael Reynolds."
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 500 222, available 24/7. If you are currently in danger or need urgent medical attention, you should call 999.