Offender Record · OFF-2026-023
Ted Bundy (photo from the Radford University biography)
Theodore Robert Bundy
Also known as Ted Bundy, Theodore Robert Cowell, Chris Hagen, Kenneth Misner, Officer Roseland, Richard Burton, Rolf Miller
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
6'0"
Hair
Brown
Born
1946
Custody
Deceased
States
CO, FL, WA, UT, VT
Distinguishing featuresDescribed as physically attractive and charismatic
Custody
Deceased at Florida State Prison, Starke
Custody record at the facility
Executed January 24, 1989 by electric chair at Florida State Prison in Starke, Florida.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Theodore Robert Bundy was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder in Florida: the murders of Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy at the Chi Omega sorority house at Florida State University in Tallahassee on January 15, 1978, and the murder of 12-year-old Kimberly Leach in Lake City on February 9, 1978. He was also convicted of aggravated kidnapping in Utah in 1976 for the November 1974 abduction attempt of Carol DaRonch. Bundy was sentenced to death in three separate trials and executed by electric chair at Florida State Prison on January 24, 1989.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Nov 08, 1974, Salt Lake City, Utah
Aggravated kidnapping and attempted criminal assault
Salt Lake County Police · Third District Court, Salt Lake City, Utah · Arrested Aug 16, 1975 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 1 to 15 years in Utah State Prison
Bundy posed as a police officer and approached an 18-year-old woman at a shopping mall, claiming an attempted break-in to her vehicle. He convinced her to accompany him to his 1968 Volkswagen Beetle. Once in the vehicle, he handcuffed her, threatened her with a handgun and crowbar, and attempted to take her to a secondary location. She fought back and escaped. Bundy was arrested after a routine traffic stop in Granger, Utah revealed handcuffs and other suspicious items in his vehicle.
SourcesLooking back at Ted Bundy's Utah confession 30 years ago; Theodore Robert Bundy Trials: 1976 & 1979; Radford University serial killer biography: Bundy, Ted
Offense date Jan 15, 1978, Tallahassee, Florida
First-degree murder of Margaret Bowman
Tallahassee Police Department · Dade County Circuit Court, Florida · Arrested Feb 15, 1978 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death by electric chair
Bundy entered the Chi Omega sorority house at Florida State University in Tallahassee in the early morning hours of January 15, 1978. He bludgeoned Margaret Bowman (age 21) to death using a wooden log/branch and then strangled her. He also attacked three other women at the sorority that night, killing one other and injuring two.
SourcesBundy v. State (Chi Omega case); Florida State University Chi Omega murders; Radford University serial killer biography: Bundy, Ted
Offense date Jan 15, 1978, Tallahassee, Florida
First-degree murder of Lisa Levy
Tallahassee Police Department · Dade County Circuit Court, Florida · Arrested Feb 15, 1978 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death by electric chair
Lisa Levy (age 20) was murdered during the same attack at the Chi Omega sorority house on January 15, 1978. Bundy beat her severely with a wooden log and then strangled her with pantyhose. Bite mark evidence from Bundy's teeth was found on the victim's body and became key forensic evidence at trial.
SourcesBundy v. State (Chi Omega case); Florida State University Chi Omega murders; Radford University serial killer biography: Bundy, Ted
Offense date Jan 15, 1978, Tallahassee, Florida
Attempted first-degree murder
Tallahassee Police Department · Dade County Circuit Court, Florida · Arrested Feb 15, 1978 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death by electric chair (concurrent with murders)
Karen Chandler (age 21) was attacked during the Chi Omega sorority assault on January 15, 1978. Bundy bludgeoned her severely with a wooden log, causing serious injuries including a fractured jaw and concussion. She was rescued when she regained consciousness and called for help.
SourcesHow Was Ted Bundy Convicted? Chi Omega, Leach, and Bite Marks; Florida State University Chi Omega murders
Offense date Feb 09, 1978, Lake City, Florida
First-degree murder of Kimberly Leach
Lake City Police Department · Orange County Circuit Court, Florida (change of venue from Columbia County) · Arrested Feb 15, 1978 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death by electric chair
On February 9, 1978, Bundy abducted 12-year-old Kimberly Leach from her school in Lake City, Florida. He raped and murdered her and attempted to conceal her body in an abandoned hog shed. Her remains were discovered on April 12, 1979. Fiber evidence from Bundy's van linked him to the crime.
SourcesBundy v. State (Leach case); Murder of Kimberly Leach; Radford University serial killer biography: Bundy, Ted
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
3
Victims convicted
30
Victims confessed
36
Victims suspected
Active years
1974–1978
Victim profile
Young women, Children, Students, Strangers
Range from home
interstate
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Education
bachelor
Marital history
Married
Children
1
Died
1989-01-24 · executed
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
CO
Aspen, Colorado
approx. Apr 1976 – Jun 07, 1977 · Transferred to Garfield County Jail, Glenwood Springs Colorado (technically Aspen area) in April 1977 to stand trial for Campbell murder; escaped June 7, 1977
Aspen, Colorado
Jun 13, 1977 – Jun 13, 1977 · Recaptured 6 days after escape; Bundy escaped from Pitkin County Law Library by jumping out second-story window
Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Jun 13, 1977 – Dec 30, 1977 · Garfield County Jail; second escape December 30, 1977
FL
Tallahassee, Florida
approx. Dec 30, 1977 – Feb 15, 1978 · Fugitive period; resided in rooming house near Florida State University campus
Tallahassee, Florida
approx. Feb 15, 1978 – Jul 31, 1979 · Held for trial in Chi Omega murders; convicted July 23-31, 1979 and sentenced to death
Pensacola, Florida
Feb 15, 1978 – Feb 15, 1978 · Arrested while driving stolen vehicle; charged with stolen license plates
Orlando, Florida
approx. Jan 07, 1980 – Feb 09, 1980 · Trial for Kimberly Leach murder; convicted February 6, 1980 and sentenced to death February 9, 1980
Starke, Florida
Aug 01, 1980 – Jan 24, 1989 · Florida State Prison on death row; held for 9 years during appeals; executed January 24, 1989 at 7:16 a.m. by electric chair
UT
Salt Lake City, Utah
approx. 1974 – 1975 · Resided in Salt Lake City after being admitted to University of Utah Law School, fall 1974
Salt Lake City, Utah
approx. 1974 – 1975 · University of Utah Law School, fall 1974 onward
Salt Lake City, Utah
Aug 16, 1975 – Jun 30, 1976 · Salt Lake County Jail after DaRonch kidnapping conviction; sentenced to 1-15 years Utah State Prison
Salt Lake City, Utah
Aug 16, 1975 – Aug 16, 1975 · Traffic stop in Granger, Utah; arrested for possession of burglary tools
VT
Burlington, Vermont
approx. 1946 – 1950 · Born in Burlington; maternal care facility during infancy
WA
Tacoma, Washington
approx. 1950 – 1965 · Woodrow Wilson High School; graduated spring 1965
Tacoma, Washington
approx. 1950 – 1974 · Raised by grandparents then stepfather Johnnie Bundy; lived on North Skyline Drive from 1953
Tacoma, Washington
approx. 1960 – 1968 · Yacht club employee
Seattle, Washington
approx. 1965 – 1966 · University of Puget Sound, fall 1965 to spring 1966
Seattle, Washington
approx. 1966 – 1969 · University of Washington, fall 1966 to spring 1969; earned Bachelor's degree in Psychology in spring 1973 upon re-entry in fall 1969
Seattle, Washington
approx. 1969 – 1974 · Rogers Rooming House in University District; second floor room; lived there from September 1969 to September 1974
Seattle, Washington
approx. 1972 – 1974 · Rape crisis hotline volunteer; Seattle Crime Prevention Advisory Commission staff member; studied sexual assault for Seattle city
Known Vehicles
Vehicles and approximate dates of ownership or use, as reported in the cited records. A photo next to a vehicle is the vehicle itself as published.
1978 Orange Volkswagen Beetle – Stolen orange Volkswagen Beetle
approx. 1978 – 1978
Stolen vehicle; driving this car when arrested on February 15, 1978 in Pensacola, Florida for speeding and stolen license plates
1968 Tan/Beige Volkswagen Beetle – Savannah beige 1968 Volkswagen Beetle Type 1
1974 – 1975
Purchased in 1974 in Tacoma/Seattle, Washington. Front passenger seat removed. Modified door handle making passenger doors inoperable from inside. Handcuffs, crowbar, ice pick, flashlight, gloves, garbage bags, ski mask, and panty hose mask found in vehicle during August 1975 arrest. Used in abductions and murders in Washington, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, and Idaho 1974-1975.
Timeline
Nov 24, 1946
Theodore Robert Cowell born in Burlington, Vermont.
1950
Eleanor (mother) and Ted moved to Tacoma, Washington; name changed from Cowell to Nelson.
May 19, 1951
Eleanor married Johnnie Bundy; Theodore's surname changed to Bundy.
1953
Bundy family moved to 658 North Skyline Drive in Tacoma, Washington.
1959
Ted learned he was illegitimate at age 13.
1965
Bundy graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Tacoma, Washington.
Sep 1965
Bundy enrolled at University of Puget Sound and attended until spring 1966.
Sep 1966
Bundy enrolled at University of Washington; attended until spring 1969.
Apr 1973
Bundy graduated from University of Washington with Bachelor's degree in Psychology; returned to University of Washington fall 1969 as honors student.
Sep 1973
Bundy entered University of Utah Law School in fall 1973.
Jan 04, 1974
Bundy attacked 18-year-old Karen Sparks in her Seattle home; she survived with permanent brain damage.
Feb 01, 1974
Bundy abducted Lynda Ann Healy from her Seattle apartment basement bedroom (first confirmed murder victim).
Mar 12, 1974
Bundy abducted Donna Manson from Evergreen College campus.
Apr 17, 1974
Bundy abducted Susan Rancourt from Central Washington State College campus.
May 06, 1974
Bundy abducted Kathy Parks from Oregon State College campus.
Jun 01, 1974
Bundy abducted Brenda Ball from Burien, Washington.
Jun 11, 1974
Bundy abducted Georgeann Hawkins from alley near University of Washington sorority house.
Jul 14, 1974
Portions of bodies of Janice Ott, Denise Naslund, and Georgeann Hawkins recovered two miles from Lake Sammamish State Park.
Jul 14, 1974
Bundy abducted Janice Ott and Denise Naslund from Lake Sammamish State Park in separate incidents.
Jul 14, 1974
Brenda Baker's body found in Millersylvania State Park, Washington (victim identified; abduction date unknown).
Sep 1974
Bundy entered University of Utah Law School.
Oct 02, 1974
Bundy abducted Nancy Wilcox in Utah.
Oct 18, 1974
Bundy abducted Melissa Smith from Midvale, Utah.
Oct 27, 1974
Melissa Smith's body found in Summit Park near Salt Lake City.
Oct 31, 1974
Bundy abducted Laura Aimee from Lehi, Utah.
Nov 08, 1974
Bundy attempted abduction of Carol DaRonch at shopping mall in Salt Lake City but abduction failed; same day he abducted Debby Kent in Bountiful, Utah.
Nov 23, 1974
Laura Aimee's body found.
Jan 12, 1975
Bundy abducted Caryn Campbell from hotel in Aspen, Colorado.
Feb 18, 1975
Caryn Campbell's body found near the motel she disappeared from.
Mar 03, 1975
Skulls of Healy, Ball, Parks, and Rancourt found near Taylor Mountain in Washington.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report · Wikipedia ·
Florida State University Chi Omega murders“In the early hours of January 15, 1978, serial killer Ted Bundy assaulted four women at the Florida State University Chi Omega sorority house using a wooden log; killing 21-year old Margaret Bowman and 20-year old Lisa Levy.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Murder of Kimberly Leach“In 1980, Bundy was eventually convicted of Leach's kidnapping and murder, for which he was executed on January 24, 1989.”
News report · CourtDocket ·
How Was Ted Bundy Convicted? Chi Omega, Leach, and Bite Marks“On July 24, 1979, the jury convicted him of two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Bowman and Levy, three counts of attempted murder, and two counts of burglary.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Karen Sparks Epley“On the night of January 4, 1974, Ted Bundy entered Sparks' apartment while she was asleep. Bundy used a metal rod to bludgeon her, causing a massive skull fracture and then used the same rod to sexually assault her.”
News report · CarBuzz ·
The Car Ted Bundy Drove“Purchased in 1974 in Tacoma, Washington, the Beetle was Bundy's mobile lair. He had removed the passenger seat to conceal victims flat on the floor.”
News report · KSL ·
Looking back at Ted Bundy's Utah confession 30 years ago“If you scroll through Utah court records, there's just one case under his name: a 1976 conviction for second-degree aggravated kidnapping for kidnapping Carol DaRonch in 1974.”
News report · Oxygen ·
Oxygen article on Ted Bundy confession“It wasn't until days before his execution that Bundy decided to confess, during the latter part of January 1989. On January 22, 1989, two days prior to his execution, Bundy confessed to killing around thirty women.”
Law enforcement release · Federal Bureau of Investigation ·
Serial Killers, Part 3: Ted Bundy's Campaign of Terror“In August 1975, police arrested Bundy for the first time after pulling him over in his Volkswagen and finding suspicious items including handcuffs, rope, and a ski mask.”
News report · HistoryLink.org ·
Serial killer Ted Bundy is put to death in the electric chair at Florida State Prison on January 24, 1989“On January 24, 1989, the State of Florida puts convicted serial killer Ted Bundy to death in the electric chair at the Florida State Prison in Starke.”
Other · Radford University, Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Bundy, Ted“Theodore Robert Bundy born November 24, 1946 in Burlington, Vermont; 36 confirmed victims; executed January 24, 1989 at Starke State prison, Florida.”
News report · Encyclopedia.com ·
Theodore Robert Bundy Trials: 1976 & 1979“On February 23, 1976 Ted was put on trial for the kidnapping of Carol DaRonch. He was found guilty of aggravated kidnapping and sentenced one to 15 years in prison.”
Court record · Florida Supreme Court ·
Bundy v. State (Leach case)“Bundy was convicted of the first-degree murder of twelve-year-old Kimberly Leach and sentenced to death.”
Court record · Florida Supreme Court ·
Bundy v. State (Chi Omega case)“On July 31, 1979, the Defendant was convicted by the Circuit Court of Dade County, Florida, for the capital felonies of murder of Lisa Levy and of Margaret Bowman.”
Law enforcement release · Federal Bureau of Investigation ·
Ted Bundy - FBI Records“In 1977, Theodore (or Ted) Robert Bundy (1946-1989) escaped from custody while being transported to Colorado to stand trial for murder. Salt Lake City issued an escape warrant that prompted the FBI's involvement.”
Discussion
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