Utah Closes Ted Bundy Murder Case
Utah officials closed Melissa Ann Smith’s 1974 murder case after linking Ted Bundy to her killing.
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Updated Oct 27, 8:37pm ETUtah authorities closed Melissa Ann Smith’s 1974 murder case after concluding Ted BundyTed BundyAmerican serial killer (1946–1989) was responsible. Smith, 17, was reported missing on October 18, 1974, and hunters found her body nine days later. Speculation persisted, but the case stayed open for more than five decades. Bundy, executed in 1989, is linked to at least 30 murders, making Smith another confirmed victim. Investigators said preserved evidence made the review possible and showed why retaining evidence matters in other cold cases. They matched Y-STR DNA from Smith’s body with DNA from Laura Ann Aime’s case, tied to Bundy earlier in 2026. They are still examining 16-year-old Nancy Wilcox’s disappearance and presumed killing.
Left and right
From the left
Left-leaning outlets framed the case as proof that modern DNA work can expand Bundy’s known toll long after death. CNN highlighted the value of keeping evidence, with Sheriff Rosie Rivera saying the case showed why preservation matters.
From the right
Right-leaning outlets emphasized closure for a teenage victim while also stressing forensic progress and local cooperation. Fox News lingered on the unresolved stretch and the Utah-jurisdiction teamwork that revived the case. The New York Post underscored DNA advances that can still establish responsibility after an execution.
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