Decades-Old Case Finally Closed

Utah County investigators have confirmed that serial killer Ted Bundy was responsible for the 1974 murder of Laura Ann Aime. The case officially closed after 18,780 days following a comprehensive review of cold cases within the county.

The Disappearance and Discovery

Laura Ann Aime was reported missing on October 31, 1974, by her family. Her body was discovered weeks later by hikers partway down an embankment near American Fork Canyon Road.

DNA Evidence and Bundy's Confession

While Bundy had previously confessed to killing Aime, investigators lacked the physical evidence needed to definitively link him to the crime. Recent advancements in DNA technology and a review of preserved evidence provided the conclusive link.

Sheriff's Statement

“We bring this case to a closure and more importantly closure to the Aime family,” stated Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith at a press conference on Wednesday morning. He also praised the work of the original investigators in 1974 for their diligent evidence preservation.

Potential for Further Investigations

The DNA profile developed during this case review is being shared with other law enforcement agencies. Detectives believe this profile may help solve additional cold cases, though specific details were not released.

Bundy's History of Violence

Ted Bundy was previously confirmed to have murdered and assaulted numerous young women across Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, and Florida between 1974 and 1978. He confessed to 28 murders, but investigators suspect he was responsible for many more.

Bundy's Time in Utah

Bundy moved to Salt Lake City in August 1974 to attend law school at the University of Utah. Laura Ann Aime’s disappearance occurred just two months later.

Bundy's Execution

Bundy was sentenced to death in 1979 for the murders of two college students in Florida. He received a second death sentence in 1980 for the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl. He was executed by electric chair in Florida in 1989.

This story was originally published by Michael Martin with the Scripps News Group station in Salt Lake City.