DNA testing links Ted Bundy to 1974 Utah teen murder
Investigators say DNA evidence confirms serial killer Ted Bundy was responsible for the 1974 killing of 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith in Summit County, Utah.
Authorities in Summit County, Utah, announced Tuesday that DNA analysis has linked serial killer Ted Bundy to the 1974 murder of 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith, a case that had remained unsolved for five decades. Prosecutors said the Y-chromosome DNA profile recovered from Smith’s autopsy matches the profile previously identified as belonging to Bundy, confirming his involvement.
"This case demonstrates the importance of preserving evidence," said Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera.
Sergeant Mike Reynolds of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, who participated in the investigation, added that the DNA match underscores the value of modern forensic techniques in resolving cold cases.
Bundy, who was executed in 1989 for the 1978 murders of two women at Florida State University, had previously confessed to additional crimes, though not all have been verified. Officials have notified Smith’s surviving relatives, none of whom remain in the area.
The DNA evidence was presented to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 7, and investigators said the finding expands the known victim count attributed to Bundy.