DNA Testing Links Bundy to 1974 Utah Teen's Death

New forensic technology allowed investigators to conclusively connect the notorious serial killer to the unsolved murder case.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:08am

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New DNA testing has definitively linked the unsolved 1974 death of 17-year-old Utah resident Laura Ann Aime to serial killer Ted Bundy, the local sheriff's office announced. Aime vanished on Halloween night 51 years ago after leaving a party, and her body was later found bound, beaten, and naked on the side of a highway. Authorities long suspected Bundy's involvement, but lacked conclusive evidence until advancements in forensic technology allowed them to extract a single male DNA profile that matched the notorious killer.

Why it matters

The Aime case had remained open for over five decades, leaving her family without closure. This development not only provides answers, but also sheds further light on the full scope of Bundy's horrific crimes across multiple states in the 1970s, a period that set the nation on edge as he was considered charming and handsome despite his murderous actions.

The details

In 1974, 17-year-old Laura Ann Aime vanished after leaving a party alone to go to a convenience store on Halloween night. About a month later, her body was found by hikers on the side of a highway in American Fork Canyon, bound, beaten, and naked. Authorities long suspected that serial killer Ted Bundy was responsible, as he had verbally acknowledged his culpability leading up to his execution in Florida in 1989, but the case remained open until new DNA testing technology allowed investigators to conclusively link him to the crime.

  • On Halloween night 1974, Laura Ann Aime vanished after leaving a party.
  • About a month later, Aime's body was found by hikers on the side of a highway in American Fork Canyon.
  • In 2023, the state crime lab obtained new technology that allowed them to extract a single male DNA profile from the evidence, which matched Ted Bundy.
  • Bundy was executed in Florida in 1989.

The players

Laura Ann Aime

A 17-year-old Utah resident who vanished on Halloween night in 1974 and was later found dead.

Ted Bundy

One of the nation's most prolific serial killers, tied to at least 30 women and girls' deaths in several states in the 1970s.

Beau Mason

Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner.

Mike Reynolds

Utah County sheriff's sergeant.

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What they’re saying

“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, we can't really say closure.”

— Mike Reynolds, Utah County sheriff's sergeant

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to provide closure and justice for victims and their families, even decades after a crime has been committed. The advancements in DNA technology have been crucial in allowing investigators to revisit cold cases and connect perpetrators to unsolved murders, providing a sense of resolution where there was previously only unanswered questions.