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Police use DNA advances to identify another Ted Bundy victim from 70s

Police use DNA advances to identify another Ted Bundy victim from 70s
ABC Australia Tuesday 27 October 2026, 20:34 UTC 1 min read
Key Points

Authorities say Ted Bundy killed 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith in 1974. Her case had been unsolved, but has been linked to Bundy by DNA evidence. They are now working to solve the death of 16-year-old Nancy Wilcox, another likely victim in Utah.

Authorities say Ted Bundy killed 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith in 1974. Her case had been unsolved, but has been linked to Bundy by DNA evidence. What's next? They are now working to solve the death of 16-year-old Nancy Wilcox, another likely victim in Utah. Serial killer Ted Bundy has been linked to the death of a Utah teenager via DNA evidence, 52 years after her body was discovered in the woods by a hunter. Bundy was executed in 1989, but the tally of his confirmed victims continues to grow due to advances in DNA testing. He killed at least 30 women and girls in multiple states in the 1970s, and many more escaped or survived with injuries. Summit County Attorney Margaret Olson said investigators were satisfied that Bundy was responsible for the cold-case killing of 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith in 1974 in Utah. Ms Olson said besides DNA evidence, Smith's death had the hallmarks of Bundy's "pattern, motive, means and opportunity".
Ted Bundy (PERSON) 70s Authorities (ORG) Melissa Ann Smith (PERSON) Bundy (PERSON) Nancy Wilcox (PERSON) Utah (LOCATION) Summit County (LOCATION) Margaret Olson (PERSON) Ms Olson (PERSON) Smith (PERSON)
Originally published by ABC Australia Read original →

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