Ted Bundy - Visual Timeline Of Events

Ted Bundy: A Chilling Timeline of America’s Most Infamous Serial Killer

Ted Bundy is one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. His crimes shocked the nation not only because of their brutality, but also due to his deceptive charm and ability to evade capture for years.

This detailed timeline outlines the key moments in Bundy’s life from his early childhood through his killing spree, multiple escapes, and eventual execution in 1989.

The timeline traces his psychological development, his known and suspected abductions and murders, and significant legal milestones. Each entry provides a glimpse into the evolution of his crimes and how investigators eventually closed in on him. From his manipulative relationships to his calculated court appearances, this chronological breakdown sheds light on the chilling progression of a killer who led a double life.

Explore the full timeline below to understand how Ted Bundy’s life unfolded and how justice finally caught up with him.

11/24/46

Age: 0
Eleanor Louis Cowell gives birth to Theodore Robert Cowell in Burlington, VT; speculated that Eleanor’s father was also Ted’s father.

1949

Age: 3
Caught standing beside his aunt’s bed grinning after he placed knives in bed. All knives pointed to her.

1950

Age: 4
Eleanor and Ted move to Tacoma, Washington; changes name from Cowell to Nelson for unknown reasons.

5/19/51

Age: 5
Eleanor marries Johnnie Bundy and her son takes his step-father’s last name.

1959

Age: 13
Ted is told he is illegitimate.

Late 1950s, early 1960s

Age: 11-17
Ted is suspected of burglaries as a teenager, but no charges were ever pressed.

Spring 1965

Age: 18
Bundy graduates from Woodrow Wilson High School in Tacoma, Washington.

1965

Age: 18
Upon graduation, he admittedly began stealing regularly.

Fall 1965

Age: 18
Enrolls at University of Puget Sound and attends the school until the next spring.

Fall 1966

Age: 19
Enrolls at University of Washington. Attends until spring 1969.

Spring 1967

Age: 20
Meets Stephanie Brooks.

Fall 1968

Age: 21
Brooks breaks off relationship with Bundy.

Early 1969

Age: 21
Visits birthplace, learns mother is Eleanor and he is illegitimate.

Fall 1969

Age: 22
Re-enters University of Washington and meets Liz Kendall. Becomes an honors student, joins politics.

Spring 1973

Age: 26
Graduates from University of Washington.

1973

Age: 26
Meets up with Stephanie Brooks again, they begin seeing each other occasionally.

1/5/74

Age: 27
Attacks Joni Lenz in her Seattle apartment. She survives.

2/74

Age: 27
Abruptly stops seeing Brooks as revenge for her dumping him.

2/1/74

Age: 27
Abducts Lynda Ann Healy from Seattle.

3/12/74

Age: 27
Abducts Donna Manson from Evergreen College.

4/17/74

Age: 27
Abducts Susan Rancourt from Central Washington State.

5/6/74

Age: 27
Abducts Kathy Parks from Oregon State.

6/1/74

Age: 27
Abducts Brenda Ball from Burien, Washington.

6/11/74

Age: 27
Abducts Georgeann Hawkins near her sorority house.

6/17/74

Age: 27
Brenda Baker’s body found in Millersylvania State Park.

7/14/74

Age: 27
Janice Ott and Denise Naslund abducted from Lake Sammammish State Park.

Fall 1974

Age: 27
Enters University of Utah Law School.

9/7/74

Age: 27
Bodies of Ott, Naslund, Hawkins found near Lake Sammammish.

10/2/74

Age: 27
Abducts Nancy Wilcox.

10/18/74

Age: 27
Abducts Melissa Smith from Midvale, Utah.

10/27/74

Age: 27
Smith’s body found near Salt Lake City.

10/31/74

Age: 27
Abducts Laura Aimee from Lehi, Utah.

11/8/74

Age: 27
Fails abduction of Carol DeRonch, abducts Debby Kent.

Thanksgiving 1974

Age: 28
Aimee’s body is found.

1/12/75

Age: 28
Abducts Caryn Campbell from Aspen, Colorado.

2/18/75

Age: 28
Campbell’s body found near motel.

3/3/75

Age: 28
Skulls of Healy, Ball, Parks, Rancourt found near Taylor Mountain.

3/15/75

Age: 28
Abducts Julie Cunningham from Vail, Colorado.

4/6/75

Age: 28
Abducts Melanie Cooley from Nederland, Colorado.

4/23/75

Age: 28
Cooley found dead near Nederland.

5/6/75

Age: 28
Abducts Lynette Culver from school in Idaho.

6/28/75

Age: 28
Abducts Susan Curtis from BYU campus.

7/1/75

Age: 28
Abducts Shelley Robertson from Golden, Colorado.

7/4/75

Age: 28
Abducts Nancy Baird from Layton, Utah.

8/16/75

Age: 28
Arrested for burglary tools; leads to DeRonch case.

Feb 1976

Age: 28
Abducts Debbie Smith in Utah.

3/1/76

Age: 28
Found guilty of aggravated kidnapping.

4/1/76

Age: 29
Smith’s body found at Salt Lake Airport.

6/30/76

Age: 29
Sentenced to 1-15 years.

10/22/76

Age: 29
FBI files against him re: Campbell, Smith.

4/77

Age: 30
Transferred to Colorado jail for Campbell trial.

6/7/77

Age: 30
Escapes from Pitkin County Law Library.

6/13/77

Age: 30
Apprehended in Aspen.

12/30/77

Age: 31
Escapes Garfield County Jail, flees to Florida.

1/14/78

Age: 32
Attacks Chi Omega sorority, kills Levy and Bowman.

2/9/78

Age: 32
Abducts Kimberly Leach in Florida.

2/15/78

Age: 32
Arrested in Pensacola, Florida.

4/12/79

Age: 33
Leach’s body found.

7/27/78

Age: 33
Indicted for Levy and Bowman murders.

7/7/79

Age: 34
Trial begins.

7/23/79

Age: 34
Found guilty of Levy and Bowman murders.

7/31/79

Age: 34
Sentenced to death.

1/7/80

Age: 35
Trial for Leach murder begins.

2/6/80

Age: 35
Found guilty.

2/9/80

Age: 35
Sentenced to death for Leach.

10/82

Age: 37
Child with Carole Boone born.

7/2/86

Age: 41
Execution stayed 15 minutes before.

11/18/86

Age: 41
Execution stayed 7 hours before.

1/17/89

Age: 44
Final death warrant issued.

1/24/89

Age: 44
Executed in Florida electric chair.

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