Qu’est-ce que c’est?
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:
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Video of Wildwood Inn, where Bundy abducted Caryn Campbell in 1975. (From Timmy)
Thread commenter Richard A. Duffus wrote a 2012 book about Ted Bundy, Ted Bundy: The Felon’s Hook (Excerpt | Image from the book)
Video interview of Kevin M. Sullivan (From Richard A. Duffus)
On this day..
- 1522: Didrik Slagheck
- 1887: Georgette and Sylvain Thomas, guillotine couples act
- 1981: Not Kim Dae-jung, South Korean president and Nobel laureate
- 1641: Not Manuel de Gerrit de Reus, chosen by lot, saved by hemp
- 1970: Three in Baghdad
- 1538: Anna Jansz, Anabaptist
- 1963: Lazhar Chraiti and nine other Tunisian conspirators
- 1846: Elizabeth Van Valkenburgh, in her rocking chair
- 1936: Allen Foster, who fought Joe Louis
- 1911: Shusui Kotoku and ten other anarchists
- Daily Double: The High Treason Incident
- 1938: Han Fuqu, Koumintang general
- 1992: Ricky Ray Rector, "a date which ought to live in infamy for the Democratic Party"
Hi,
It is definitely the last place to ask this question and I am (maybe) the last person to do it but still I wonder whether interest in Bundy will someday go away for good?
Or maybe we should expect a the Renaissance of Bundy?
Is he iconic enough to secure a status of ‘immortality ‘ like Jack the Ripper?
Personally I think, that we are approaching twilight of mass-‘fascination’ in Bundy.
He was a ‘creepy media star’ at the time of his arrest, trial, Death Row years.
It is then that main books on Bundy were published – with all respect to Kevin’s ground-breaking title.
But now 21 years after his well-deserved execution – I feel the number of people interested in him is incomparably smaller than in previous decades.
OTOH, there is number of movies on Bundy produced in current decade – “Bundy”, “The Riverman”, “Bundy.Legacy of Evil”, “Stranger Beside Me” TV movie.
So I think we should solve this issue by hiring some respectable research agency to conduct a worldwide research on the current level of interest in Bundy.
Sorry as I finish this post I realize that it makes no specific sense lol
PS:
Question to Paul: Where did you see those interviews with victim’s families? You meant old newspaper articles available on Google news – or some docs from YouTube?
Hello Kevin,
Okay. i understand what you are saying.
Hard to believe there where more killers like bundy at the same time and in the same area. But i believe you.
But i’m only interested in Ted Bundy.
Can you tell me Which case from Wyoming you mean. I’m very curious which case you are referring to when you talk about your own research. I know you can’t prove it was
Bundy but it’s a possibility.
Greetz Maarten!
Greetz: It is possible he could have taken a victim in Wyoming, as he traveled through the state several times, at least. However, it would be pure speculation on our part as to what part he played (if any) in the abduction of any particular girl or young woman in that state. I believe I came across one case in Wyoming during my research for the book, where I thought the possibility at least exists that Bundy could have been involved. But the sad truth is this: Even during the years that Bundy was killing women, there were other killers of women out there, operating in the same geographical areas as Ted, murdering women. As such, unless someone discovers some highly convincing evidence pertaining to a particular person, the only Bundy victims we know of for sure, are the ones we’ve known about for a very long time.
As to Nevada and Montana, I would say no.
I also wondered if Bundy ever killed in Wyoming.
Are there suspicious cases where Bundy might has something to do with.
And also Nevada and Montana.
I searched many times on the internet looking for cases from late sixties till 75 august in one of these three states.
Do people on this forum have cases/names where Bundy might involved with.
This one may be interesting.
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/b/brown_carlene.html
the pour girl fits the profile and also time wise it’s possible. Even more interesting is the fact that se dissapeared together with a friend who was later found. All this took place 10 days before lake sammamish and 3 days before Bundy was spotted at lake sammamish where he checked possibly the environment.
I wonder if Bundy has anything to do with this one. It all makes sence. Maybe a test or rehearsal for lake sam?
We all know he took 2 girls that day.
I also never believed he didn’t kill between july 14 and september 2 74. the gap is to big!
After lake sam he possible killed further from home because of the many witnesses and police sketch at the lake.
Maybe he was in Nevada.
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/l/leslie_cynthia.html
Again 2 girls. Hair parted in the middle and never been found.
I know it’s speculation from my side but maybe others on this forum would like to react on my thoughts.
This is not something i found out today but a long time ago. I’m just curious what other Bundy followers have to say on these 2 cases.
Greetz Maarten
From Holland
Hi Paul–
Wyoming, Utah , and Colorado all share some border with each other. When Bundy made some of his Colorado trips, he’d leave Salt lake City on I-80, travel north to Wyoming, drive across that state, and turn south on (I believe) 25 and drive south through Colorado.
Hi this is the last post today as you can gatjher I am not at worka nd spending day on computer my USA geography is pretty bad ( but then so is my UK geography ). Had a look at the map of the surrounding areas of Utah and Washington and for gaps in abductions. Does anyne know if Bundy went to Wyoming or if you could drive there from Utah or Colorado without re fuelling?
Also found something interesting that makes me doubt whether Shelly Robertson was a Bundy victim I always thought she was and she fits the “Bundy victim look”. However Ottis Elwood Toole drove a battered pick up truck and the last person to see her alive was a policeman who said she got in a pick up truck with a wild haired man and of course Bundy liked his Bugs. I checked the timeline and he confessed to taking Susan Curtis on the 28 of June and Shelly was taken on the 1 of July that is only a few days apart and if we believe he took Nancy Baird (I know he denied it but there is speculation) that was on the 4 July. Looking at the ones he confessed to there was a good few weeks break but he was capable of taking them close together (he took 2 on the same day). What do other people think about this?
Hi
Thanks for response people the fact the body had a skull implies it was not Donna Manson and when her parents were approached they asked for a photo of the shirt but said that they had laid their daughter to rest a long time ago. I guess a lot of the parents feel this now which is a valuable coping mechanism. I have seen interviews with many parents including Margaret Bowmans, Nancy Wilcox, Susan Rancourt, Denise Naslund and it is so sad. Susans sister said she had a bright jacket and before they found her she was always looking for it wherever they went. Also saw Nancy Wilcox mum before Bundy confessed saying she hoped Bundy had not taken her as it would feel like she was taken all over again, then of course he confessed. It is sad they will always be linked to Bundy but of course their lives where about so much more than the last few hours of it.
As I recall all Bundy would say about Manson is he was hazy about details but she was in the cascades. Like most of his victims at the time he was drunk and probably stoned but as he said the minute he had a victim his head cleared.
Topelius– Well, I will be unable to say what I know about these situations, because to do so, I would have to name names. However, I will say this, for the most part, most of the front line detectives in the Bundy case got along well with each other, and they spoke highly of each other during interviews I conducted. For example, Mike Fisher and Jerry Thompson worked together for quite some time, and these two guys got along very well, and speak highly of each other to this day. And really, most everyone I spoke with had positive things to say about their fellow officers. However, there were occasions when unkind remarks were made about someone (and this happened several times, by different people, concerning different people) and I had to just sit there and pretend I didn’t hear it or give it any credence. But I did make a mental note of it, and I soon came to (I believe) a correct conclusion as to why they became so petty at that moment. But don’t ask me to reveal these folks, or what they said, ’cause I just won’t do it.
As for the Florida cops, I can only say that Don Patchen had only good things to say about Mike Fisher and Jerry Thompson.
I`m not entirely sure is this relevant to the case, but Kevin, are you aware of the “beefs” the investigators had with each other? I remember hearing that Keppel and Hagmaier didn`t come along. Neither did Ressler and Hagmaier.
And apparently the Florida cops felt that the investigators from west were coming into their territory and weren`t necessarily pleased about that.
Hi Richard– Mike Fisher told me that Bundy was at his most vulnerable when he was exhausted; that information HAD to be obtained from him at that time, for if he became rested, he’d start playing games with the investigators again. Mike said that as soon as he learned that Bundy had been apprehended in Florida, he telephoned the detectives there and warned them about this.
As to some of these guy’s feeling the need to exaggerate their roles in high profile cases, it’s true. However, no one I had any dealings with ever exaggerated their role in the case, but I am aware of some who do. You can’t do the kind of research I did for the book and not know who said what, LOL!
Regarding Kevin’s comment in 2471 that “there are a number of these guys [investigators] who are very protective of their roles in the Bundy case” I think that is unfortunate. I forget who said it, but it was said that if one was going to get anything out of Bundy, thay had to not want it. Suppose that happened. Suppose Bundy found someone who didn’t want it and spilled the beans. When that person approached the investigators with that information, they would refuse to act on it because it would make them look like fools. After all they worked hard to get what they could and now some yahoo comes up with the whole ball of wax with little or no effort. So crimes that could have been solved remain unsolved all beause of people’s inflated egos.
Bart–
Personally, I don’t believe Bundy cared about who photographed him in social circles. I believe he felt he was impervious to detection, otherwise he would not have exposed himself (for example) to 1500 people at Viewmont High. So photographs taken at a party, etc, wouldn’t have mattered to him at all.
I wonder if it was possible that Bundy during his killer spree years 1974-1974 deliberately (well “The Deliberate Stranger”) avoided the camera in order not to be detected from such photos by someone? It is just a thought! I am not too attached to this – as I know that he believed in his chameleon-like appearance skills, and – as as psychopath – he felt he was ‘invisibile’.
Hi George…doing this by phone, so everybody pray, lol! Yes, it doesnt surprise me Louise had Ted’s picture still on display. She loved her son, and thats why I said family members would have a different reason for holding onto the photos.
Kevin-
Funny this should be brought up ,but as I recall,a journalist spoke to Louise 10 yrs after the execution.She had Teds graduation photo -still – in full view.That is impressive-and very sad.She is a victim too.But more importantly-a mother.
Look at the Utah 75 mug shot
He looks possessed by something very evil.
This is for me a very important picture cause he was still in his hunting modus at this time. just after his arrest.
Great picture
Thnx for the answers guys!
Greetz Maarten
Hi Bart–
Page 75 of my book gives April 23, 1974 as the date Bundy missed a caucus, and other missed events would be in June, July, etc. He just couldn’t keep his political commitments, nor did he want to, as murder was all that mattered now.
As to the photos of Bundy taken during this period (especially by friends and coworkers): In my opinion, the opposite will always be true. That is, it is highly unlikely any photos would be destroyed , given the significance of Bundy and his crimes, and what part they play in the history of that terrible time. Most people would feel they are just to important to dispose of, and I’m certain many do exist in the homes of these folks today. As far as those taken by family members, well, I’m sure these would be kept too, but for different reasons.
Regarding those photos of Bundy during his spree years January 74 – August 75, maybe those private photos taken by his friends, girlfriends, political acquaintances were destroyed out of disgust and terror as Bundy turned out to be a homicidal maniac? I mean those people wanted to destroy every link between them and Bundy? Sarcastically speaking, it wasn’t good business move as those pics would have cost fortune now on eBay lol. As I remember from Kevin’s book, Bundy as he launched into the world of serial murder, abandoned political life quite quickly. His last Republican appearance was around mid-spring of 1974, right Kevin?
Hi Maarten–
There are no doubt numerous pictures of Bundy from that time period. However, I would assume, most are in the hands of the people who took them (that is, they were taken privately). Now, there may be some photos of him from one of the newspapers, pertaining to his work in politics, but as he was moving away from this life by January of 1974, this is a big maybe.
Take care,
Kevin
Can anyone tell me if there are more photos of Bundy from between january 74 till august 75.
Or is there only one which we talked about on this forum with this blonde girl where he is doing the dishes…
Greetz Maarten
Hi Paul–
As you probably already know, Bundy said Manson’s body is up in the Cascade mountains. I believe this is true, and what he said about burning the skull is true too. I also believe that what he said about remembering everything he’d done is true also, but that there were many times when he wanted to avoid talking about certain things, and he would at those times feign forgetfulness or ignorance.
I too believe Bundy killed before 1974, but as to whom, and when, we are left to speculate.
Take care,
Kevin
I once was told that Donna Manson has been always regarded missing person, a runaway – by her friends and family. They didn’t want to believe she is Bundy victim and they didn’t want her to be attached to Bundy. Of course it doesn’t mean Bundy didn’t kill her -but it sheds some light on the way people close to the victim react.
Also came across on wikipedia that fishemen discovered a body with a shirt that was very similar to Donna Mansons and they were unsure if it was her. Does anyone know if this was her body ( I say body it was more like bones).She was the only missing person fitting that desciption. However, a skull was also found and Bundy claimed that he burnt her skull (if he was telling the truth).
Bundy also states in the book that ” I remember everything I’ve ever done, right down to the nth degree” Interesting that he went into great detail about some and was “hazy” about others. It was all part of his game to give up some and stay quiet about others to prolong his life. He probably hoped that giving up sue curtis at the last minute would have prolonged his execution but it did not work.
sorry should be I immediately THOUGHT one of the first…
Just saw the picture of the skull it’s quite disturbing I think it was Caryn Campbell too, you can see snow around her.
Am reading conversations with a killer and came across something I found interesting. I think we all are pretty sure Lynda Healy was not his first victim he murdered and on page 86 Ted Bundy says about Lynda “this was one of the first instances that he’d abducted a woman in this fashion.” I immediately one of the first, not the first. I guess this gives more credence that Bundy was killing before and Rita Jolly and Vicki Hollar were possibly his doing.
Hi Mike–
First, thanks for the nice words about the book! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: When I was about half way through the book, I knew I had something special on my hands. For a case that was as old as this one, I was both surprised and excited about all the new stuff I was uncovering about some of the murders, as well as how the book was taking shape in an over all sense. Also, having spent over two years of my life researching and writing the book, I was glad once I finished it, LOL!
Yes, that is interesting about the detective mag. Bundy, the real killer of Healy, would not even be arrested in Utah until August of that year. Who knows, perhaps Bundy even read that article (if he had time to keep up with these things between law school and murder), as he was an avid reader of the detective magazines. If he did see it, I’m sure it brought a smile to his face, as he never expected to be connected to any of his crimes; and that would include the exceedingly strange abduction and murder of Lynda Ann Healy.
take care,
Kevin
Welcome, Mike! This suspect you are referring to was James Ruzicka, not Buzicka. He was cleared off Ted murders as he was caught in spring of 1974 and disappearances still continued.
Hi Everyone,
This is my first post. I just wanted to let you guys know how much I have enjoyed not only the book, but also this great thread.
Having direct access to the writer is not something that happens very often. Hats off to you, Kevin.
I have read all of the Bundy books over the years and I thought this one was just going to be more of the same. It’s amazing you were able to come up with an even more thorough analysis. Very impressive!
On a different note, I was going through some old detective magazines my Mom had stored away and found an interesting article. In the February 1975 edition of Master Detective there is an article called “Was the Jailed Sex Psycho Granted a Pass to Rape Again?” about a guy named James Buzicka in Seattle. He was granted a day pass from jail and did not return, but went on a rape and murder rampage.
Imagine my surprise when I saw a photo of Lynda Ann Healey on the second page of the article as one of the missing women he was thought to have killed.
The article was written by Andy Stack, which was Ann Rule’s pseudonym at the time. I had read in “The Stranger Beside Me” that she had written articles about “Ted” for detective magazines, not knowing it was her associate, of course. And here was one of the articles.
Anyway, I thought you guys might find this interesting.
hi George Im doing this on my phone, so ill try not to screw this up, lol! yes, i think ressler is a little bit of a glory hound. BH is not. Indeed, there are a number of these guys who are very protective of their roles in the Bundy case; as if that was ever in question.
Kevin-
Sorry
Anyhow,it was subtly indicated that was Caryn.Ressler was wrong about B.H IMO.A bit of a glory hound on a p.r tour.Will speak again soon
Kevin-
Nice to speak to you again.Been too long.Anyway,I first saw that photo in a documentary about Robert Ressler.He considers,from his statements on that telecast,Bundy to be the most skillfull and manipulative of the serial killers he interviewed.He says he doesnt know which of them controlled the interviewing process itself.He t
akes a veiled shot at Hagmaier ,without naming him,in the process.
Hi, George, and good to hear from you!
You may indeed be correct about the skull. Ghastly, isn’t it?
Kevin and Emma,etc
I believe the skull in question belongs to poor Caryn Campbell.A portion of the autopsy report describes her face as being partially eaten,no doubt by scavanging animals.
Well, Emma, at least you were close to the site of the pancake house, LOL!
Kevin-
I go to school in Ohio and my friends and I took a trip to Dollywood and then stopped off in Louisville for one day. I was there less than 24 hours lol.
Emma– I don’t have a clue as to the skull. But it is quite nasty looking, LOL!
Emma–
The pancake house is now gone! That’s too bad, for I remember it from years ago (I would pass it all the time in the 1970’s). Also, I made a little mistake in the book when I described it as being on West Jefferson St. It was actually on East Jefferson St, and as I say, just off the second ramp from I-65 heading south.
Thanks for the kind words about the book.
P.S. What’s your connection to Louisville (if you don’t mind me asking)?
I came across this website a while back and I always wondered whose skull this was. Any insight?
DISCLAIMER–This is a very graphic image of a portion of a dead body. DO NOT click this link without knowing that what you will see is very disturbing.
http://vanessawest.tripod.com/bundyskull.jpg
Emma
Thanks for the insight Kevin. This book is so creepy especially since I am around the age of his older victims (mid-20s). I live on a college campus and am actually looking at doctoral programs in Denver, CO…close to Golden, CO.
I was in Louisville a few weeks ago…had I read your book I would have stopped by the pancake house!
It is really sad because I look back at the stuff I did when I was 17-21 and did really stupid things…got into cars with people I didn’t know for a ride home from the bar, went for walks with boys I met at bars, would spend the night at friends’ dorm rooms and apartments without telling anyone etc. I just thought I was 100% invincible. And I was a good kid. They were all good kids. It is just terrible to see someone take advantage of youth and naivete.
Even now though, if someone as smooth and charming as Ted bundy were to approach me and ask for help carrying his books…would I fall for it? I consider myself cautious but I am the helpful type. Cautious, yet helpful.
I have my off campus apartment boarded up tight. Windows locked etc. Great book!!
It is my understanding she had a virus of some type. More like, she was at the vend of it, but still not 100% back to normal.
Another thing that interests me…just out of curiosity. It is mentioned in almost every book that Caryn Campbell was feeling nauseous and had stomach cramps. Was she hungover? Pregnant? that is something I always wondered about.
Hi Emma–
Yes, well, the manner of death does not matter in terms of what happens to people at the time of death. Now, let’s say Nancy Wilcox relieved herself shortly before encountering Bundy: I would think there would be very little discharge from her, but there might be something discernible. More importantly, Bundy was very familiar with both the viewing and holding of women at the point of death, and beyond. And of course, there is an unmistakable loss of movement within a body at that time, and this change would have been recognized by Theodore per his past experience with murder. Personally, I will never believe that Bundy didn’t know she was already dead. In my opinion, it was just another occasion where Bundy wanted to portray himself in what he believed would be a little better light, as it were.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the book!
Kevin
Your book, Kevin. The bundy Murders: A comprehensive History. I turned in the final draft of my thesis and I am halfway through the book. I can’t put it down! One thing I have a question about however, is the Nancy Wilcox murder. apparently Bundy claimed he strangled her just enough to knock her out, but did not think she was dead, and he removed her clothes (thinking she was unconscoious) and had sex with her. You believe that he killed her and knew full well that she was dead. You mentioned something about urination and defecation…which can happen upon death…but it doesn’t always happen. Now, in terms of a violent death, like strangulation….is loss of bladder and bowel more common? I would think it would depend on whether or not the colon was empy at the time of death or not….more so than the manner of death. But, I am not sure. Nonetheless I believe you that Bundy knew she was dead. I think because she was so young, 16, he had trouble admitting he intentionally killed her. That’s just my take. Love the book!
Emma–
Do you mean THE BUNDY MURDERS, or another book?
I just got this book from my college library! I was so excited to find it. I am reading it in bits and pieces while finishing up this thesis.
Also, nice find about the name of the girl in that terminally creepy “washing dishes with Ted Bundy” photo. I’d thought about loading that up to Wikimedia Commons but it was published as an Associated Press photo, so no go.
I found that essay about Caryn Campbell, and I emailed the author, and I can confirm that it is fictional. Fine bit of writing, though.
I also think it’s the only picture of bundy from the period january 74 till august 75 where he gets arrested.
Correct me if i’m wrong
That makes the picture where bundy is washing the dishes even more bizarre..
I also never knew the name of the girl was Carol but what i always wanted to know..From which year was this photo, before or after 1974, he seems so relaxed and chill on this photo. Enjoying his time with this blonde girl with this normal activity hehe
But when you find out this photo is from 1975 it’s kindy creepy thought when you see him standing there like an all american boy, and his charming laugh and all..
I always thought this photo was from before 1974.
Nice to know he already killed more ten 10 girls and still look this relaxed and ‘normal’ like everybody else. I also get a better idea of how he looked like in his murder spree period and indeed how normal he was.
Greetz Maarten