Notorious Serial Killer Ted Bundy Stalked and Posed as Victim's Boyfriend Before Murder

Family reveals Bundy had targeted 17-year-old Laura Ann Aime months before her brutal killing in Utah over 50 years ago.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 5:52am

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An extreme close-up of a tattered, bloodied piece of clothing from a crime scene, lit by a harsh, direct flash to create a stark, gritty aesthetic that conceptually represents the violence and investigation surrounding this case.A grim relic from a decades-old crime scene exposes the brutality of a notorious serial killer's predatory tactics.Spanish Fork Today

Notorious serial killer Ted Bundy had stalked one of his teen victims, Laura Ann Aime, even posing as her boyfriend at school, months before her severely beaten, naked corpse was discovered in Utah in 1974, her family says. Bundy's first known interaction with Aime was when he jumped in to 'protect' the minor during a schoolyard incident, before later approaching her multiple times prior to her disappearance from a Halloween party.

Why it matters

This case highlights Bundy's predatory tactics of stalking and manipulating his victims, even going so far as to pose as a high school student's boyfriend, in the months leading up to their murders. It also underscores the long-lasting impact on victims' families, who have waited over 50 years for closure and justice.

The details

According to Aime's niece, Taura Stucki, Bundy had approached Aime multiple times before she disappeared from a Halloween party in Lehi, Utah on October 31, 1974. Bundy's first interaction with Aime was when he stepped in to 'protect' the 17-year-old from other students who were harassing her, telling them 'Leave my girlfriend alone' - to which Aime responded that she was not his girlfriend. Stucki obtained files from a private investigator that revealed Bundy had been actively stalking Aime prior to her murder, making contact with her at school. Aime's severely beaten, naked body was discovered a month later in American Fork Canyon by two college students on Thanksgiving. Her father was unable to identify her by her face due to the severity of her injuries.

  • On October 31, 1974, Laura Ann Aime disappeared from a Halloween party in Lehi, Utah.
  • A month later, on Thanksgiving, Aime's body was discovered in American Fork Canyon.

The players

Ted Bundy

A notorious serial killer who admitted to murdering 30 women between 1974 and 1978 across multiple states, and was known to prey on young female hitchhikers.

Laura Ann Aime

A 17-year-old victim of Ted Bundy who was targeted and stalked by the serial killer for months before her brutal murder in 1974.

Taura Stucki

The niece of Laura Ann Aime, who obtained files from a private investigator that revealed Bundy had been stalking and preying on her aunt prior to her death.

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What they’re saying

“It seems that Ted Bundy actually stalked my aunt a few times before actually killing her. He approached her multiple times.”

— Taura Stucki, Aime's niece

“These kids were throwing leaves down her shirt. He came up to her and put his arm around her and was like, 'Leave my girlfriend alone'.”

— Taura Stucki, Aime's niece

“I always knew that, but then to see it like he actually did stalk her is kind of crazy to me because most of his victims, it seems like he just picked them up right then.”

— Taura Stucki, Aime's niece

What’s next

Officials in Utah County have confirmed that Ted Bundy was 'without a shadow of doubt' responsible for Laura Ann Aime's murder, bringing long-awaited closure to her family over 50 years later.

The takeaway

This case highlights the predatory tactics of serial killers like Ted Bundy, who would stalk and manipulate their victims for months before brutally murdering them. It underscores the lasting trauma inflicted on victims' families, who must grapple with unanswered questions and a lack of closure for decades.