Serial killer Ted Bundy is linked to another Utah teenager’s 1974 murder through DNA testing

Besides that evidence, Smith’s death showed hallmarks of Bundy’s “pattern, motive, means and opportunity,” Olson said.

Utah’s state crime lab got new technology in 2023 that extracts DNA from samples even if they are small, degraded from age or contain DNA from multiple people.

“This case demonstrates the importance of preserving evidence,” said Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera, whose department has also investigated homicides linked to Bundy.

“We have to solve these cases to the best of our ability,” she said, explaining the importance of tapping science, even so many years later. “Nobody is just going to walk away and just blame everything on Ted Bundy, even though many cases have been that way. Here in the state of Utah, we take it very seriously.”

Smith’s relatives were contacted about the findings but declined to attend the news conference and declined to speak to reporters, the Summit County sheriff’s office said.

“With every case closure, may we stomp the memory of Ted Bundy out,” Utah County Sgt. Mike Reynolds said.

Bundy was executed by electric chair in Florida for the 1978 murders of two women at the Chi Omega sorority house at Florida State University.

He gave a series of confessions in his final days, including to some crimes that were previously unknown to police. Not all of those cases have been confirmed.

Besides Florida and Utah, authorities said Bundy had victims in Colorado, Idaho and Washington state. They said they’re especially working to solve the 1974 death of 16-year-old Nancy Wilcox of Utah.

Solving the Smith homicide “does not close the book on Ted Bundy,” said Det. Ben Pender of the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Ed White And Mikella Schuettler, The Associated Press

by The Canadian Press

Serial killer Ted Bundy is linked to another Utah teenager’s 1974 murder through DNA testing

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