New DNA Testing Links 1974 Utah Teen's Death to Serial Killer Ted Bundy

Investigators confirm Bundy was responsible for the killing of 17-year-old Laura Ann Aime, who disappeared after a party in 1974.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 5:36am

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New DNA testing has definitively linked the unsolved 1974 death of a Utah teenager, Laura Ann Aime, to the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy. Aime was found dead on the side of a highway about a month after her abduction, and investigators long suspected Bundy was responsible, though the case remained open until the DNA evidence could confirm it. Bundy was linked to the deaths of at least 30 women and girls across several states in the 1970s.

Why it matters

This case highlights the continued efforts of law enforcement to solve cold cases and provide closure for victims' families, even decades later. It also underscores the lasting impact of Bundy's horrific crimes and the ongoing fascination with his case, which set the nation on edge in the 1970s.

The details

Aime, 17, disappeared after leaving a party alone on Halloween night in 1974. Her body was found about a month later, bound, beaten, and without clothing, on the side of a highway in American Fork Canyon. Investigators long suspected Bundy was responsible, as he had confessed to the killing without providing details before his execution in 1989, but they needed DNA evidence to confirm it. Forensic analysts were able to extract a single male DNA profile from the preserved evidence, which matched Bundy's DNA profile in a national law enforcement database.

  • Aime disappeared on Halloween night in 1974.
  • Her body was found about a month later in November 1974.
  • Bundy confessed to Aime's killing before his execution in 1989.
  • New DNA testing confirmed Bundy's involvement in April 2026.

The players

Ted Bundy

One of the most infamous serial killers in U.S. history, linked to the deaths of at least 30 women and girls across several states in the 1970s.

Laura Ann Aime

A 17-year-old Utah girl who was abducted and killed in 1974, her case remaining unsolved until new DNA testing confirmed Bundy's involvement in 2026.

Michelle Impala

Aime's sister, who was 12 years old when Aime was killed and spoke at a news conference about the case.

Beau Mason

The Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner, who announced the DNA evidence linking Bundy to Aime's death.

Mike Reynolds

A sergeant with the local sheriff's office, who expressed the department's desire to provide closure to Aime's family.

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What they’re saying

“It's really quite amazing that people are even still interested in Laura's case. Know I speak for my family when I thank you, and thank you media, too, for even caring.”

— Michelle Impala, Aime's sister

“Laura Aime is the quintessential daughter of Utah County. We felt the pain the family feels when she was taken. We felt the pain that you felt this whole entire time, and we've had the desire to deliver to you some type of healing.”

— Mike Reynolds, Sergeant, local sheriff's office

What’s next

Investigators say the new DNA evidence linking Bundy to Aime's death can now be used by other law enforcement agencies to potentially solve other unsolved cases that have long been suspected to involve the serial killer.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to use advanced forensic technology to solve cold cases and provide closure for victims' families, even decades later. It also serves as a somber reminder of the lasting impact of Bundy's horrific crimes and the enduring fascination with one of America's most notorious serial killers.