US EditionDNA Links Bundy to 1974 Cold Case Murder
New forensic testing confirmed DNA from Laura Ann Aime’s body matched Ted Bundy, and officials said the 52-year-old cold case is closed.
- On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, the Utah County Sheriff announced that DNA evidence definitively confirms serial killer Ted Bundy murdered Laura Ann Aime in 1974, closing the case that remained unsolved for over 50 years.
- Aime, 17, disappeared from a party in Lehi on Halloween night in 1974 after telling friends she was buying cigarettes. Hikers discovered her body on November 27, 1974, partway down an embankment near American Fork Canyon Road.
- Investigators analyzed body fluids preserved since 1974 using new forensics techniques, with the resulting DNA profile matched via the FBI's Combined DNA Index System in March, providing "definitive evidence" that confirmed Bundy as the perpetrator.
- Michelle Impala, Aime's younger sister, said it was "quite amazing that people are still interested" in the case. Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith stated his office would have pursued the case to the "fullest extent" and pushed for capital punishment if Bundy were alive.
- Officials indicated the forensic breakthrough may help resolve another cold case linked to the same DNA profile in the near future. Evidence preserved from 1974 remained "pristine," enabling the long-awaited closure and potentially aiding investigations into other Bundy-linked homicides.
239 Articles
239 Articles
Utah authorities identified Laura Ann Aime, a 17-year-old teenager murdered by Ted Bundy in 1974, thanks to new DNA tests that confirmed her responsibility. The case remained open for more than five decades, despite Bundy confessing the crime before her execution in 1989, due to a lack of conclusive evidence. With this identification, the investigation was officially closed, marking a milestone in the resolution of femicide committed by one of t…
Utah police took an act to close a case that had been open since 1974. Forensics were able to investigate evidence obtained decades ago.
A 17-year-old girl disappeared after a Halloween party in 1974.
New DNA evidence links 1974 death of Utah teen to notorious serial killer Ted Bundy
The intersection of flourishing forensic technology and decades-old cold cases has yet again reshaped the landscape of American criminal justice. On Wednesday, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office provided a definitive conclusion to a mystery that had plagued the state for over fifty years.
For more than 50 years, the case of Laura Ann Aime remained unsolved. Now, a DNA test confirmed that Ted Bundy was the perpetrator.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 61% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
