between 1973 and 1978 "More than ever, I am convinced of my own innocence." Childhood • He was born in Burlington, Vermont to Eleanor Louise Cowell. His father is unknown and because he was born illegitimately his mother pretended that his grandparents were his parents and she was his sister. • He discovered the truth when he was about 14 • His mother married Johnny Bundy in 1951 in Tacoma, WA and had 5 more children. Ted adopted his stepfathers name. • He was a good student and claimed to be involved in the Methodist Church and the Boy Scouts of America • He suffered from acute shyness and had few friends in high school • Shocking incidents even at a young age. His Aunt Julia woke to find herself surrounded by knives from the Cowell kitchen. Three-year- old Ted was standing by the bed, smiling at her University Life • He graduated in 1972 with a degree in psychology • He was thrown into a great depression after his first girlfriend dumped him • He was also an active member of the Republican party. "So what's one less? What's one less person on the face of the planet?" Details of Crimes • Number of victims is unknown – estimated about 30 • All victims were white females with the similar characteristic of long hair parted in the middle • He abducted girls from public places in daylight, pretending to be an authority figure, feigning injury or using ‘good looks’ and charm to reel in victims • Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Idaho, Florida • He was charged for burglary and kidnapping before receiving two death sentences for the murder of sorority girls in Florida 1979 • He received a third death sentence in 1980 for murdering, raping and dumping the body of Kimberly Leach (aged 12). His attorney pleaded insanity. “I led a normal life, except for this one, small but very potent and destructive segment that I kept very secret and close to myself.” Time in Jail • Ted Bundy became infamous during his trials as he defended himself and was loved by the media • He fathered a child by sending his sperm to Carol Boone in 1980 • He escaped for the first time in June 1977 by jumping out of a court room window but was recaptured after a week • He then escaped by acquiring a hacksaw and sawing through the weld holding a metal plate on the ceiling of his cell/ He dieted to lose weight and slipped through. “Until you reach a point where the pornography only goes so far, you reach that jumping off point where you begin to wonder if maybe actually doing it would give that which is beyond just reading it or looking at it." Possible Reasons for Crimes • His childhood confusion about is mother and father’s whereabouts • His addiction to pornography • He was diagnosed as a manic depressive • His grandfather was a tyrannical bully • Lack of male role models • He was also addicted to the worst forms of necrophillia Further Viewing • Part 1 of an A&E documentary on Ted Bundy • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAHgJFPcOvY • The last interview Bundy gave hours before his execution • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkfIpMRfNzc • Ted Bundy claiming his innocence • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBpNz9RwZ- M&feature=related • “I think I have as much chance of dying in front of a firing squad or in a gas chamber as you do of being killed in a plane flight home.” "But I'm the most cold-hearted son of a bitch you'll ever meet."[