Teen Killed in 1974 Identified as Ted Bundy Victim, Closing Cold Case

Forensic evidence links 17-year-old's murder to notorious serial killer after over 50 years.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 5:05pm

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The Utah County Sheriff's Office has announced that 'definitive information' has concluded a teenager found dead in 1974 was a victim of serial killer Ted Bundy. Laura Ann Aime, 17, was last seen leaving a Halloween party in Utah County on October 31, 1974 and her body was later discovered strangled, raped, and murdered. Investigators have long suspected Bundy was responsible, and advancements in forensic technology have now confirmed the connection, closing this cold case after more than 50 years.

Why it matters

The identification of Aime as a Bundy victim provides closure for her family after over half a century and helps to further document the full scope of Bundy's horrific crimes across multiple states. It also highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to utilize new forensic techniques to solve long-standing cold cases, even decades later.

The details

On Halloween night 1974, 17-year-old Laura Ann Aime left a party in Utah County, telling others she was going to buy cigarettes. She never returned home. In early November, her body was found down an embankment off American Fork Canyon Road, and she had been strangled, raped, and murdered. While investigators long suspected serial killer Ted Bundy was responsible, Aime's homicide remained unsolved for 51 years. Recent forensic analysis has now definitively linked evidence from the crime scene to Bundy, who was a law student at the University of Utah at the time and is believed to have been Aime's third victim in the state.

  • On October 31, 1974, Aime was last seen alive leaving a Halloween party.
  • In early November 1974, Aime's body was discovered down an embankment off American Fork Canyon Road.
  • For the past few decades, investigators believed Bundy was responsible for Aime's murder.
  • In 2026, advancements in forensic technology allowed investigators to conclusively connect evidence from the crime scene to Bundy.

The players

Laura Ann Aime

A 17-year-old girl who was murdered in 1974, and has now been identified as a victim of serial killer Ted Bundy.

Ted Bundy

One of the most notorious serial killers in history, who attacked and murdered dozens of women across the western United States, including in Utah, Washington, Florida, and Colorado.

Mike Smith

The Utah County Sheriff who announced the identification of Aime as a Bundy victim during a press conference.

Tara Stucki

Aime's niece, who stated that Bundy had approached and stalked Aime multiple times before her murder.

Dennis Couch

A detective with the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office who visited Bundy in prison and recorded his confession to murdering two other women in Utah.

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What they’re saying

“If Bundy were still alive, they would pursue the death penalty against him.”

— Mike Smith, Utah County Sheriff

“Bundy approached [Aime] multiple times before and kind of stalked her before taking her.”

— Tara Stucki, Aime's niece

“Bundy admitted to murdering two women in Utah: Nancy Wilcox, a 16-year-old student at Olympus High School who disappeared on Oct. 1, 1974, and Debra 'Debbie' Kent, who disappeared from Viewmont High School on Nov. 8, 1974.”

— Dennis Couch, Detective, Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office

What’s next

Investigators believe another case will be able to be closed based on the forensic work done in Aime's case, though they didn't share any additional information about that victim.

The takeaway

The identification of Laura Ann Aime as a victim of notorious serial killer Ted Bundy, after more than 50 years, demonstrates the power of modern forensic science to solve even the oldest cold cases and provide closure for victims' families. It also serves as a sobering reminder of the immense trauma and loss caused by Bundy's horrific crimes across multiple states.