1989: Ted Bundy, psycho killer

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It was 20 years today that Ted Bundy, the signature sexual psychopath in a golden age of serial killers,* rode the lightning in Florida’s Starke Prison.

Executed Today is pleased to mark the occasion with a conversation with Louisville crime writer Kevin M. Sullivan, author of a forthcoming2009 book on Ted Bundy … and a man who knows how the world looks from inside Bundy’s ski mask.

Ted Bundy is obviously one of the most iconic, written-about serial killers in history. Why a book about Ted Bundy? What’s the untold story that you set out to uncover?

The desire, or drive, if you will, to write an article about Ted Bundy and then create a 120,000 plus word book about the murders, was born out of my crossing paths with his infamous murder kit. Had Jerry Thompson [a key detective on the Bundy case -ed.] left Bundy’s stuff in Utah that May of 2005, well, it would have been an enjoyable meeting with the former detective, but I’m certain it would have all ended quietly there. Indeed, I doubt if I’d even considered writing an article for Snitch [a now-defunct crime magazine -ed.], much less a book about the killings. But it was having all that stuff in my hands, and in my home, and then being given one of the Glad bags from Ted’s VW that made it very real (or surreal) to me, and from this, a hunger to find out more about the crimes led me forward.


Ted Bundy’s gear, right where you want it — image courtesy of Kevin M. Sullivan. (Check the 1975 police photo for confirmation.)

Believe me, in a thousand years, I never would have expected such a thing to ever come my way. I can’t think of anything more odd or surreal.

ET: You mentioned that you think you’ve been able to answer some longstanding questions about Bundy’s career. Can you give us some hints? What don’t people know about Ted Bundy that they ought to know?

I must admit, when I first decided to write a book about the crimes, I wasn’t sure what I’d find, so the first thing I had to do was read every book ever written about Bundy, which took the better portion of three or four months.

From this I took a trip to Utah to again meet with Thompson and check out the sites pertaining to Bundy and the murders in that state. Next came the acquisition of case files from the various states and the tracking down of those detectives who participated in the hunt for the elusive killer.

Now, no one could have been more surprised than me to begin discovering what I was discovering about some of these murders. But as I kept hunting down the right people and the right documents, I was able to confirm these “finds” at every turn. And while I cannot reveal everything here, It’s all in the book in great detail. Indeed, you could say that my book is not a biography in the truest sense, but rather an in-depth look at Bundy and the murders from a vantage point that is quite unique. I wish I could delve further into these things now , but I must wait until it’s published.

The Bundy story has a magnetic villain and a host of victims … was there a hero? Was there a lesson?

The real heroes in this story are the detectives who worked day and night for years to bring Ted Bundy to justice. And if there’s a lesson to be learned from all of this, it is this: It doesn’t matter how handsome or articulate a person might be, or how nicely they smile at you, for behind it all, there could reside the most diabolical person you’ll ever meet! We need to remember this.

But how can you act on that lesson without living in a continual state of terror? Bundy strikes me as so far outside our normal experience, even the normal experience of criminality, that I’m inclined to wonder how much can be generalized from him.

Actually, (and I might say, thank God here!) people as “successful” as Ted Bundy don’t come our way very often. I mean, the guy was a rising star in the Republican Party in Washington, had influential friends, a law student, and certainly appeared to be going places in life. Some were even quite envious of his ascension in life. However, it was all a well-placed mask that he wore to cover his true feelings and intentions. On the outside he was perfect, but on the inside a monster. He just didn’t fit the mold we’re used to when we think of a terrible killer, does he?

Now, there are those among us — sociopaths — who can kill or do all manner of terrible things in life and maintain the nicest smile upon their faces, but again, just beneath the surface ticks the heart of a monster, or predator, or what ever you might want to call them. Having said that, I’m not a suspicious person by nature, and so I personally judge people by their outward appearance until shown otherwise. Still, it’s difficult (if not impossible) to see the “real” individual behind the person they present to us on a daily basis.

You worked with case detectives in researching your book. How did the Ted Bundy case affect the way law enforcement has subsequently investigated serial killers? If they had it to do over again, what’s the thing you think they’d have done differently?

They all agree that today, DNA would play a part of the investigation that wasn’t available then. However, in the early portion of the murders, Bundy made few if any mistakes, as he had done his homework so as to avoid detection. As such, even this wouldn’t be a panacea when it came to a very mobile killer like Bundy who understood the very real limitations sometimes surrounding homicide investigations.

I can’t help but ask about these detectives as human beings, too. Clearly they’re in a position to deal with the heart of darkness in the human soul day in and day out and still lead normal lives … is a Ted Bundy the kind of killer that haunts or scars investigators years later, or is this something most can set aside as all in a day’s work?

They are, first of all, very nice people. And you can’t be around them (either in person, or through numerous phone calls or emails) for very long before you understand how dedicated they are (or were) in their careers as police officers. They are honorable people, with a clear sense of duty, and without such people, we, as a society, would be in dire circumstances indeed.

Even before Bundy came along, these men were veteran investigators who had seen many bad things in life, so they carried a toughness which allowed them to deal with the situations they came up against in a professional manner. That said, I remember Jerry Thompson telling me how he looked at Ted one day and thought how much he reminded him of a monster, or a vampire of sorts. And my book contains a number of exchanges between the two men (including a chilling telephone call) which demonstrate why he felt this way

How about for you, as a writer — was there a frightening, creepy, traumatic moment in your research that really shook you? Was there an emotional toll for you?

Absolutely. But the degree of “shock”, if you will, depends (at least for me) on what I know as I first delve into each murder. In the Bundy cases I had a general knowledge of how Bundy killed, so there wasn’t a great deal that caught me by surprise, as it were. Even so, as a writer, you tend to get to know the victims very well through the case files, their family members or friends, and so on. Hence, I’ll continue to carry with me many of the details of their lives and deaths for the remainder of my life. And so, lasting changes are a part of what we do.

However, I did a story a few years back about a 16 year old girl who was horribly murdered here in Kentucky, and this case did cause me to wake up in the night in a cold sweat. Perhaps it was because I have a daughter that was, at the time, only a few years younger than this girl, and that some of what transpired did catch me off guard, so to speak, as I began uncovering just what had happened to this very nice kid.

Watch for Kevin M. Sullivan’s forthcoming The Bundy Murders: A Comprehensive History from McFarland in summer or fall of 2009.

* In fact, the term “serial killer” was coined in the 1970’s by FBI profiler Robert Ressler, as an improvement on the sometimes inaccurate category of “stranger killer”.

Additional Bundy resources from the enormous comment thread:

On this day..

Possibly related executions:

8,544 thoughts on “1989: Ted Bundy, psycho killer”

  2. Thanks, Debbie! I believe you’ll find find my book quite different as well, and I hope you’ll let me know what you think if you have a chance to read it. And thanks for the info concerning the other Bundy book; I know someone else posted a thread to it several days ago.

    Kevin

  3. Hey, I can’t wait until your book comes out, Kevin. I try to read everything related to Ted. I recently bought Ted Bundy, which is found on http://www.tedbundy.biz. I really like the book, because it is so different from anything already out there.

  4. Hi Mike–

    The book is over 120,000 words. I haven’t received the page proofs yet, so I can’t give an exact number as to pages, but it should be a substantial read. And yes, I explore each murder in great detail, as well as his numerous failed attempts at abduction. I have also uncovered important, and previously unpublished information concerning several of these murders, and in fact, the entire book will provide the reader with new information throughout, as they follow Ted Bundy on his trail of murder.

    Good luck with the Raiders book! And remember, the biggest part of writing a book comes before the first page is written: That is, have a passion for what you write about; make the internal decision to follow it through to completion; and don’t allow yourself to become discouraged as you travel down your own literary road.

    Take care,

    Kevin

  5. Kevin,

    I….like many people that have posted have read every possible Ted Bundy book. I hope to publish a book myself on the Los Angeles Raiders. However, I find the investigations concering Bundy very interesting. I am looking forward to your book because this is a topic that needs more exploration. How many pages is your book? Perhaps I missed it but do you take the time to explore each murder in detail? Good luck in your book sales.

    Mike

  6. Jason–

    The TLC Ted Bundy documentary set to start on Saturday, the 20th of June, gives a date of having been made in 2008. So I’m sure I haven’t seen this one, but I’ll comment on it after I view it this weekend. As far as anyone uploading it on the internet, I’m not sure if that’s possible due to US copyright laws; unless, of course, TLC allows it at their site. Even so, I would imagine one could purchase it from TLC or another vendor, making sure, of course, that you obtain the correct region DVD so it plays on machines in the UK.

    Yes, that “I survived Ted Bundy” would be the Red Back film I was referring to where I helped the producer locate some of the Utah authorities who were closely involved in the case. Perhaps it will come to the US at some point and I’ll have a chance to view it.

  7. Kevin –
    I think the documentary you are referring to is one called ‘ I survived Ted Bundy’ which contained a number of reconstructions of how Bundy committed his crimes. I believe i watched this documentary once before and based on my memory it was more of a tribute to the victims rather than Bundy. I believe this was shown 2004-2006 time and i am pretty sure its quite rare.
    I doubt that the Ted Bundy programme will be shown in the UK so any chance of recording it and uploading it on the net? If not it would be interesting to hear what yours and others reviews are of the programme

  8. Thanks, George! Say, do you happen to know if it’s an import from the UK? I have been wanting to take a look at the one that was produced over there a couple of years ago from a company called Red Back Films, or something very close to that name.

  9. Hi guys-
    Just in case anyone is interested(ha ha) a new Ted Bundy documentary is premiering on the Learning Channel on Saturday at 7pm.Its part of TLC’s Serial series.I’ve seen prior installments and they have all been quite good.

  10. Hi Mark,

    Of course, Bundy may be lying, but I think he mentioned to Michaud that he transported her to where she was found, and killed her soon after arriving there. Perhaps he did take her to the family cabin, and others as well. And perhaps he never wanted his family to know what diabolical things transpired at the happy-getaway. This is something we may never figure out.

    I haven’t read that portion of the manuscript in some time, but I think I mention the cabin once, just so the reader understands what Ted had available to him. I wouldn’t give it much page-time, one might say, due to our inability to know how much of a connection it plays in the story. Still, it’s something to think about.

  11. if bundy first took Parks to his family cabin this would only have been 165 miles or required 6.5 gallons at 25 mpg. he could have secured her there and then refeuled.

    I am curious to know Kevin how much you will delve into what you were told about possible use of this cabin. I do know for a fact there was a good attempt to search it and for strong reason why they went there.

  12. Jason,

    I’m sure that if Diane Edwards came forward, she would have a story to tell, but it would be one of the behind-the-scenes-Ted, and could not be as in-depth as Kendall’s. After all, Liz got to see the darker side of Bundy, and Bundy would call her after committing murder. Still, it would be interesting to see her “take” on things, as she was close to Bundy in ways that could be revealing. Who knows, perhaps she’ll speak out one day, let’s not place our money on it, however, LOL!

    Kevin

  13. Kevin
    You never know. She could be lurking on this very webpage as we speak lol. So this is a message to you Diane, If you can see this, dont hesistate to come forward LOL.
    One thing that makes me believe that her story would be valuable was from Teds last interview with Polly Nelson and Dr Lewis. Although he did lie about ‘hearing voices’, i do believe there was some truth in what he said about Diane and how when he started killing, he would imagine it was her. Obviously overtime, this image of Diane evaporated and he was killing as a form of leisure. Maybe she picked up on some unusual habits Bundy had or even understood the devastation he suffered once they broke up the first time.

  14. Hi Jason–

    I wonder if Diane Edwards knows we’re talking about her; that’s what I’m wondering, LOL!!!

    Who knows why Diane has been silent, but at least Liz Kendall didn’t remain so, and that’s a good thing!

    Kevin

  15. Hi Courtney–

    You know, many years have gone by, and Diane Edwards has chosen to remain silent on the subject, so I’m thinking she’ll continue to stay in the background, as they say. That’s my guess, anyway.

    And yes, there’s nothing quite like tramping over ground where something that holds your interest has occurred! When I was 17 years old (1972), I visited Normandy, and in the very early morning hours, was standing on Omaha Beach. The tide was fairly far out (not as far as when our guys hit the beach) and I walked all the way up the beach to the where the ground starts to ascend and will eventually lead one to the top of the hill where the Germans were well-entrenched. Given the distance, it was very easy to see why so many of our troops were killed before reaching this point. Anyway, being there created some memories that will stay with me all of my life. So yes, if the interest is there, do make the effort to visit these places. It will be well-worth your time.

    Take care,

    Kevin

  16. I was kind of surprised but yet could understand why Stephanie Brooks (Diane Edwards) did not release a book/documentary on her relationship with Ted Bundy. This may have been because she played a small but yet significant part in Bundy’s life and she probably didnt know about it up until he dumped her in 1973. Once that took place, it was clear that she did not want anything more to do with Bundy, whether it was because she was unhappy that he dumped her for for reasons more sinister. Yet it would of been very interesting to hear what Stephanie would have to say on Ted Bundy and possibly discuss any bizarre behaviour traits he may or may not have had. Kind of like how Liz Kendall was able to describe her fears and doubts about Bundy which gave the police a clue and possible insight into the monster who Bundy had become.

  17. I would love to go and visit all the sites up in Washington as well! I’ve never seen them nor any in Utah or Florida for that matter. It would be so interesting.

    Kevin do you ever think Ted’s first girlfriend Stephanie will ever publish anything about their relationship and how she perceived him?

    Thanks again so much for all the time you’ve put into this forum.

  19. Yeah, that’s the first I’ve heard about it. I know Bill Hagmaier told me a very long time age that some lady (I think she worked for a newspaper) had contacted him several times in the past, and was apparently writing a book about Ted, but I haven’t seen even one thing about the book on the internet. So perhaps it fizzled out, or maybe she’s still plugging away at it, but only time will tell.

  20. I have sent an email to the author of the book Ted Bundy: Serial Killer which was advertised on the website tedbundy.biz posted above. I asked him/her to provide an overview on his book and posted up a link to this website so hopefully he/she will be posting here soon.

  21. Very bizarre. And in fact, once it was confirmed that Parks was among the other Washington victims, this only added to the public’s fear of what (yes, “what”, even more than who) they were dealing with. A real monster was on the prowl.

  22. Ha! I forgot that this very point was discussed in the DaRonch trial! Bundy said the VW got 28 mpg at “peak efficiency” but could be as low as 20. So he almost certainly would have had to stop for gas somewhere with a trussed-up Kathy Parks in the back. Bizarre.

  23. Apparently so. Now, I guess the real question is, did he whack her in the head at some point prior to arriving back in WA, or did he just bind and gag her? But whatever he did, I do find it amazing that he took the time to go that far to obtain a victim just to bring her all the way back to Washington. I mean, he could have done his diabolical work in Oregon, yet he, for some unknown psychological reason, decided to add her to his ever-growing collection of remains in an environment he was comfortable with.
    The entire situation is classic Bundy.

  25. There is always the chance Bundy topped off his tank after arriving in Oregon. Who knows. But remember, Bundy was a strange creature, and almost impervious to the fear of getting caught. Hence we have him hauling Lynda Healy out through the basement door into a street that could at any time have young people walking past him. It was, after all, a university district, and as such, the nights would be busy at times with nocturnal college students roaming about. Yet Bundy wasn’t afraid to abduct a woman under such circumstances.

    And if one looks at Ted’s overall demeanor concerning his traveling about with dead or dying women in his car, or the keeping of heads in his apartment, or his bold move at Viewmont High School where he captured Debra Kent, I don’t believe there’s much of anything he wouldn’t do to commit murder.

  26. I decided to splurge a dollar and get a 1991 copy of “The Only Living Witness”. Includes some pictures (the recent paperback that’s out in bookstores has none) and a few passages that apparently were excised from the later edition.

    Anyway, that’s not the point. I’m rereading the book, and I got to the “speculation” about Kathy Parks, and something occurred to me:

    How far can a 1968 VW Beetle go on a tank of gas? Google is telling me that the gas tank for that era of Beetle was 9.2 gallons. We know he drove Parks 260 miles. That comes out to a minimum fuel efficiency of 28.3 mpg to make that trip without stopping for gas. Google is less precise in determining the MPG for a ’68 Bug but that seems to be near the top of the range.

    So here’s what I’m wondering. Bundy describes transporting Parks alive all the way back home. He wouldn’t have dared stop for gas with a live girl bound up in the back of his car, would he? Either he did, or he lied about driving her home alive while he dithered over killing her. It would be easy to throw a blanket over a dead girl to prevent her from being seen while he filled up.

  27. Well, thank you, Richard, I appreciate the kind words.

    You know, the Bundy case was difficult one from a criminal justice position. On the one hand, Bundy admitted to killing 11 women in the state, and we know of 8 by name for a certainty. But Bundy was never convicted for any of these crimes, and due to the lack of real evidence, it might have been difficult for the state to obtain a conviction at all. Maybe they could have, we don’t know. Utah knows he killed up to 8 women in their state, but he was only convicted in the DaRonch case, so he “escaped” justice there too. And when they finally pulled the switch on Theodore for killing Kim Leach, they weren’t killing him for the Chi Omega murders!

    However, I have said all of that to say this: For what it is worth, when Ted was executed, everybody connected to the case could take a personal satisfaction that the monster was being killed for them. That is, everything he became, everything he was, and everything he did, was “paid for” at the same time. And in the end, this is probably the only solace they are going to have. In the end, the criminal justice system “worked” only because he was finally put to death. And any result other than that, in my opinion, would be less than justice. For any time a killer is left to live, and to eat, and to watch TV, and to see loved ones, etc, while their victims rot in the ground and their loved ones suffer incalculable grief, justice has not been served. I know this stance is not popular with everyone, but it’s been my view throughout my life that the greatest need for a death penalty is twofold: First, the killer will never kill again (not even in prison) and the families of those murdered most often find solace when the murderer has also tasted death.

    Anyway, that’s my take on things.

    Kevin

  28. Thanks, Mark, for all the information. In doing the research for the book, I made it to Utah, parts of Colorado, and Florida. I did not, however, have a chance to visit Washington State. So I ordered box after box of case files from the King County Archives, conducted interviews by phone, and consulted all the proper sources to be able to learn everything I needed to learn for the book. However, I really want to visit the area if at all possible in the next couple of years, as I want to see these sites close-up, so to speak, and photograph them as well. And because I haven’t seen them with my own eyes, I feel like I’m still in my researching/writing mode, LOL!

    Thanks again,

    Kevin

  29. Kevin, I join Ted and Jason in thanking you for taking the time to attend to this forum and for putting up with some of the nitpicking speculative comments. Ideas need to be tested.

    Anyway, I was wondering how well you think the criminal justice system represented the interests of the victims’ families in these cases. Include those for whom Bundy is only a suspect.

  30. i dont know the home on skyline, the one I know is off of North 20th. The Skyline House is the one he grew up in as a little boy as I understand. One of my close freinds went to hgih school with him as well at Wilson and knew him fairly well. He thinks about selling his year book.

    I dont know about tours of the rooming house. I know there was a murder tour and they prehaps drove by. Several years ago I drove around at night to all the addresses including Lynda Healy’s house from the rooming house and a buddy of mine was a Beta at the UW and we played hoops out in the alley where George Ann was leaving from that fateful night.

    My friend who investigated the cabin after the fact knows Ann really well along with Keppel. He had relayed a lot of the info about what Bundy had done and told Keppel that didnt end up in the book. I think most of it has come out now but he had relayed the photos being hidden and I thought he had said ceiling or attic but he heard second hand but he had been one that had searched the outside grounds of the cabin and they had found a meat cleaver.

    Anyhow I am posting under a psyedo have been fascinated since I was a kid as this hit so close to home. I did attend UPS and Ted’s mom retired from the school while I was there.

  31. Hi Mark–

    Thanks for the info. You’re certainly in the epicenter of where it all began.

    It was my understanding the photos were in the utility room in the basement, as Det. Thompson made a really good sweep of Bundy’s # 2 apartment on the second floor. And I’m thinking it might be in Polly Nelson’s book, but I could be mistaken.

    Yeah, George Ann Hawkins. I had a chance to speak with a good friend of her’s, and to this day, he has a tough time talking about what happened, and I can’t blame him at all. Such a terrible situation for the victims, their families, and all who knew them.

    Say, do you ever go by the Bundy home on Skyline Drive, or the Burr home? What’s going on with the rooming house Bundy stayed in for years in the U District? I hear it sometimes has tours, etc, is that true?

    Anyway, I hope you enjoy the book.

    Take care,

    Kevin

  33. Thanks, Jason! I appreciate the kind words. And I think you’ll be surprised at all the new information contained in the book.

    Kevin

  34. The Bundy cabin is actually close to Olympia and its on Silver Lake the grounds were searched but yes the Bundy’s did not grant permission. Much of what I have learned from a local official is they suspected the cabin was used by Ted.

    He also mentioned the photos were kept in the attic or a ceiling in the Salt Lake House.

    I am looking forward to he book and what new light has been uncovered.

    I live in Tacoma and actually very close to the Bundy family which ironically is just 1/3 mile from where Ann Marie burr disappeared. They lived in this house in the early 70’s but apparently lived further away when she disappeared.
    On a side note my uncle dated George Ann Hawkins in high school.

  36. I have to agree with Ted. Its not all the time that you have an author who dedicates their time and efforts to discussions on chosen topics. In saying that, i would like to show my gratitude for the information you have given us, which may not even be in the book.
    Thanks for the overview Kevin. I am definately looking forward to how Bundy pulled off some of his murders and the ‘ killer-victim’ conversations that have not been touched upon.

  37. Say, I hit the submit button accidentally, so I’ll finish what I was saying:

    So if the Headsman doesn’t mind, let’s keep this going for as long as an interest remains, and I’ll be more than happy to tag along too.

    And Ted, you may share the review of my book when it becomes available, and thanks for taking the time and effort it requires to give it what I know will be a proper going-over. And if you see something you don’t agree with, don’t hesitate to mention it.

    Thanks to all!

    Kevin

  38. Ted–

    Thanks so much for the kind words. For a moment, I had to turn around and say: “Is he talking about me?” LOL!!! But all jokes aside, I must confess that what has happened at this site was beyond anything I expected. We are quickly approaching 500 comments, and really, I’m thinking we’ve just gotten started! Once the book is published, it will spark many new questions; questions I’ll be more than happy to answer. And I want everyone to know just how much I enjoy discussing this case with folks who are knowledgeable and keep me on my proverbial toes, so to speak.

    I know that I mentioned in a post above how nice it would be if at some point in the future we could all meet one another. Of course, I realize this may never happen, but it’s a good thought anyway, and who knows what the future holds, right?

    As to the victims of Theodore Bundy: Not a day goes by that I don’t think about them, and what they might be doing if they were with us today. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of Louise Bundy, and Ted’s brothers and sisters, as they are victims too. It is a terrible story indeed, but one worth remembering. For the more we as a society understand how these monsters think and act, the better are we in protecting ourselves from them. It is also important to remember the impact these murders had on the folks from the states where the killings occurred. Their particular “worlds” were, in a very real sense, changed forever, and it matters not if they personally encountered the fiend, as they were forced to live through the terrible ordeal. And so, yes, it is a sad story, but one, I believe worth remembering.

  40. All,

    This thread is great. Kevin, you’ve given us all so much time and insight, far more than any of us could reasonably expect. I’ve really enjoyed reading the thoughts of all of your correspondents, and have been impressed at their keen inquisitiveness and their deep knowledge of the Bundy case. The Bundy story is such a tragedy, and I think the posters here have done a good job of keeping foremost in their minds the real victims in this story: The murdered women and girls and their families and friends. Bundy’s crimes scarred hundreds of people for life, and that is the saddest part of this story.
    Kevin, I will be in receipt of your book very soon, and plan to devote a lot of time to reading it. I typically read a book I plan to review twice in a short period of time, to make sure I properly absorb the nuances and tone of the entire book. I will share the eventual review with all on this thread, if that’s okay with you.
    In the meantime, let’s keep the compelling conversation going…we’re all learning a lot and deepening our collective understanding of the human condition, ugly though it may be at times. I cling to the idea that most of us are good, compassionate, caring people, and that notion has been borne out on this thread in spades. Congrats to all, but especially to you, Kevin, for your kindness, time and relentless pursuit of the truth. I think I speak for all of us when I tell you how much we appreciate the time you have given us.
    Regards,
    Ted

  41. When I asked “what if he did something on the way that he didn’t want us to know about?” I meant for you to think “murder.” I was testing a technique Bundy used from time to time with M&A. He would be deliberately ambiguous letting them think this when he really meant that. It works well. Hiding something incriminating would be something else he wouldn’t have wanted us to know about.

  42. Hi Jason,

    Yes, it’s an up-close-and-personal-look at the murders, to be sure. It was my intention as I began the book to not leave out any important details of the murders, and I believe I’ve accomplished that. Take, for example, the Caryn Campbell murder: Just in the brief discussions we’ve had here, new information has come forth that many or even most readers were unaware of; as in the name of Elizabeth Harter, or that Mike Fisher believes Ted kept the key to her room. Well, I truly believe that once readers finish that section of the book they’ll have a much better understanding of the Campbell murder and how Bundy pulled it off that they didn’t have prior to reading my book. And even this is not the “new stuff” I keep talking about. The book is exceedingly in-depth, well-documented, and has much new information on several of the murders, and this is why I was able to sell it so quickly. I have even had, in the last couple of months, been contacted by the senior acquisitions editor of another publishing house acknowledging how she wished she’d have moved sooner in regards to the Bundy book (I had sent her a book proposal the same time I mailed one to McFarland & Company). Well, this type of response happens for a reason.

    As to the new info., I can’t say very much even now. However, It was my aim to erase the “unknown” aspect of some of these murders, and I have done so. In some cases I’ve erased “gaps” in the record, and replaced it with his known activities, and all of it is documented. There will be descriptions of conversation between killer and victim that has never before been released; and no, I will not speak of it prior to publication. Many new things await the reader in my book, and I hope it will be considered the definitive work on the murders of Theodore Bundy for some time to come.

    And of course, it goes without saying, that it takes nothing away from the previous books by M&A, Larsen, etc. I’m just saying that without question, because of the research I’ve put into the book, I’ve broken new ground with a number of these murders. And because of the way I have written it, it should be a unique work that I hope will be well-received.

  43. Hey everyone.
    I ve recently come back from a short holiday break and not surprisingly, this discussion has only become bigger. Its been interesting reading on Bundys route taken after he escaped jail, Lake Sam murders, Pictures of the victims etc. I am definately looking forward to reading about these and more in the new book.
    Kevin, it is my understanding that in your book, you are going to go through each of the murders that have been attributed to Ted, state how he committed them, the events leading up to it etc and this would all be based on the information you have gathered during the course of your research? Basically i was wondering if you would be able to provide a brief overview of what will be in your book. I am sorry if i am ‘jumping the gun’ lol but as you know, based on the popularity of this thread, there is a high amount of anticipation for the book and i cant wait to read it and discuss it with everyone here.
    Thanks in advance
    Jason

  44. So true. This whole thing stems from Bundy getting lost trying to leave Ann Arbor. His mapping, driving, and over-all sense of direction skills were sadly lacking.

  45. I should have made clear above that the route I mapped out was in fact a three-stop Ann Arbor-Louisville-Atlanta route, based on what Bundy himself said. The direct Ann Arbor-Atlanta route is in fact shorter, going through Lexington and Knoxville instead of Louisville and Nashville.

  46. Lea–

    Bundy evidently decided to follow the signs through the major cities, and for reasons he kept to himself (or perhaps, kept to himself) and maybe this came about through some type of logistical reasoning he was mulling over in his mind at the time. Who knows?

  47. Of course, Richard, I know you didn’t say that, but beyond murder and theft, what is left that Theodore had any interest in doing, and more appropriately, wouldn’t want us to “know about” as you stated in your previous post? Therefore, I assumed it was murder you were referring to in the above statement.

    But no matter. This is indeed a small issue, and it’s okay with me if folks want to believe he took another route, and for whatever reason. But as for me, I’ll be sticking with the available, and most certain evidence in the matter. And in the end, doing this makes the most sense to me, and is the only true route a non-fiction writer should ever travel.

  48. Funny Vidor, I got completely different mapquest results. I’m not saying he did or didn’t do anything, but these are the directions:

    Hide/Show Route Directions from A to B:
    1: Start out going WEST on CATHERINE ST toward N 5TH AVE. 0.1 mi
    2: Turn LEFT onto N MAIN ST/US-23 BR. Continue to follow N MAIN ST. 2.0 mi
    3: Stay STRAIGHT to go onto ANN ARBOR SALINE RD.
    0.9 mi
    4: Merge onto I-94 E toward DETROIT. 4.3 mi
    5: Take the US-23 exit, EXIT 180 A-B, toward TOLEDO/FLINT. 0.2 mi
    6: Merge onto US-23 S via EXIT 180A toward TOLEDO (Crossing into OHIO). 51.7 mi
    7: Merge onto I-75 S via EXIT 1A toward DAYTON (Passing through KENTUCKY, then crossing into TENNESSEE).
    459.0 mi
    8: Keep LEFT to take I-75 S via EXIT 368 toward CHATTANOOGA (Crossing into GEORGIA).
    192.9 mi
    9: Take the M L KING JR DR exit, EXIT 248A, toward STATE CAPITOL/TURNER FIELD.
    0.3 mi
    10: Keep LEFT at the fork in the ramp.
    0.1 mi
    11: Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DR SE. 0.2 mi
    12: Turn LEFT onto WASHINGTON ST SW.
    0.1 mi
    13: Turn LEFT onto CAPITOL SQ SW.
    0.1 mi
    14: Turn LEFT onto CAPITOL AVE SE/CAPITOL AVE SW.
    0.0 mi
    15: End at Atlanta, GA

    Estimated Time: 11 hours 29 minutes Estimated Distance: 711.88 miles

    Roughly an hour and 70 miles shorter.

    If he had planned to drive to Florida from Ann Arbor, the I-65 route would have taken him straight there through Louisville and through Alabama. However, if he wanted to go through Atlanta, then once he got to Louisville the I65 to I75 route is the only one that makes any kind of sense to me. I’m not saying anybody is wrong and you obviously know way more about this than I do, but that’s what I got when I mapquested it.

  50. Yeah, downtown Louisville has all kinds of hotels and motels. However, Bundy came through the city in the morning, and perhaps during the very early morning hours, and he really did want to get south as quickly as possible. As I recall, it was exceedingly cold during that time, and he was probably quite weary of the cold and was looking forward to warmer temperatures.

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