World · North America · 2 hrs ago
DNA links Ted Bundy to 1974 killing of Utah teenager
Utah authorities say DNA links Ted Bundy to a 1974 killing.
The victim was 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith, whose body was found in the woods.
Her death had long been treated as a cold case, meaning it had remained unsolved.
Bundy killed at least 30 women and girls in several states during the 1970s, and was executed in Florida in 1989.
Advances in DNA testing have helped confirm more of his victims.
Authorities said they are satisfied Bundy was responsible for Smith’s death.
They have decided to close the case.
Utah authorities said DNA evidence links Ted Bundy to the 1974 murder of 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith.
Smith’s body was discovered in the woods by a hunter on 27 October 1974.
Investigators used evidence from the case of another Bundy victim, Laura Ann Aime, to help solve Smith’s case.
Summit County Attorney Margaret Olson said investigators were satisfied Bundy was responsible for Smith’s death.
Utah officials said other Bundy cases are still being examined.
- Who
- Ted Bundy was identified as responsible for killing 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith.
- What
- DNA evidence linked Bundy to Smith’s 1974 murder.
- When
- Smith’s body was discovered on 27 October 1974; authorities announced the finding on Tuesday, 27 October 2026.
- Where
- Utah. Smith’s body was found in the woods.
- Why
- Advanced DNA testing and evidence gathered in the case of Laura Ann Aime helped investigators solve Smith’s case.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A hunter discovered Melissa Ann Smith’s body in the woods.
Utah authorities identified Laura Ann Aime as another Bundy victim, and evidence from her case later helped investigators solve Smith’s case.
Utah authorities announced that DNA linked Bundy to Smith’s murder.
- Victim
- Melissa Ann Smith
- Age
- 17
- Discovery date
- 27 October 1974
- Location
- Utah
- DNA finding announced
- 27 October 2026
- Other case evidence
- Laura Ann Aime’s case
3 sources
What people are saying
With every case closure may we stomp the memory of Ted Bundy out
that there is hope out there
Investigators are satisfied that Bundy was responsible for killing 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith in 1974, a death that had long been listed as a cold case