DNA Confirms Ted Bundy Killed Utah Teen Over 50 Years Ago

Authorities say they have conclusively linked the serial killer to the 1974 murder of 17-year-old Laura Ann Aime.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 5:07pm

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More than 50 years after her death, DNA evidence has confirmed that serial killer Ted Bundy was responsible for the 1974 murder of 17-year-old Laura Ann Aime in Fairview, Utah. Aime's body was found on Thanksgiving Day that year, showing signs of beating and strangulation. Bundy, who was executed in 1989, had long been suspected in Aime's killing, but authorities lacked conclusive evidence at the time. The recent DNA match has finally closed the case.

Why it matters

This development provides closure for Aime's family after over five decades of uncertainty. It also adds to the growing body of evidence documenting the full scale of Bundy's horrific crimes, as authorities believe he may have killed up to 100 women across multiple states in the 1970s.

The details

Authorities say they were able to match semen evidence collected from Aime's body to Bundy's DNA, which was kept in a national database. Bundy had confessed to Aime's murder, but his statement was not considered enough evidence to close the case at the time. The recent DNA test results have now definitively linked Bundy to the crime.

  • Laura Ann Aime was last seen alive at a Utah County Halloween party in 1974.
  • Aime's body was found by hikers on Thanksgiving Day 1974.
  • Ted Bundy was executed by electric chair in 1989.

The players

Laura Ann Aime

A 17-year-old from Fairview, Utah who was killed by Ted Bundy in 1974.

Ted Bundy

A notorious serial killer who confessed to 30 murders, including Aime's, and is suspected of up to 100 total killings across multiple states in the 1970s.

Mike Smith

The Utah County Sheriff who announced the DNA evidence linking Bundy to Aime's murder.

Michelle Impala

Aime's sister, who was 12 years old when Aime was killed.

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What they’re saying

“We can now say, without a doubt, that Theodore 'Ted' Bundy did in fact did murder Laura Ann Aime in the fall of 1974, and that law enforcement now has DNA testing results that are compatible with the latest DNA testing standards.”

— Mike Smith, Utah County Sheriff

“I know that she would be really happy to know that it's been closed, and just to know that Ted Bundy is, like, gnashing his teeth in hell. I hate to think of people doing that. But with him and a few other people in the world, that's what they deserve.”

— Michelle Impala, Aime's sister

What’s next

The DNA evidence linking Bundy to Aime's murder will now be entered into national databases, making it easier for other law enforcement agencies to compare evidence from their own unsolved Bundy-related cases.

The takeaway

This case highlights the power of modern DNA testing to provide closure and accountability, even decades after a horrific crime. It also underscores the lasting impact of serial killers like Bundy, whose crimes continue to haunt victims' families and communities long after their deaths.