I was 12 when I first heard Ted Bundy’s name. My mom caught me reading a library book about serial killers and promptly confiscated it—which obviously made me want to read it more. Twenty years later, I’m still fascinated by the psychology behind America’s most infamous charmer-turned-killer. (Sorry, Mom.)
Ted Bundy remains the gold standard of the “hiding in plain sight” murderer. The kind that makes you question whether you actually know your neighbor, your classmate, or that helpful stranger who offers to help carry your groceries.
Let’s dive into some truly disturbing Bundy facts that the Netflix documentaries might have glossed over. (And yes, I’ve watched them all. Multiple times. Ryan thinks I need therapy.)
1. He Worked at a Suicide Hotline
In perhaps the most ironic job placement ever (as subtle as a bloody fingerprint at a crime scene), Bundy volunteered at a Seattle crisis center in the early 1970s. He literally spent evenings talking people out of ending their lives while actively taking others. His coworker? True crime author Ann Rule, who later wrote “The Stranger Beside Me” about her friendship with Bundy before knowing his dark secrets.
2. He Escaped from Custody. Twice.
Most killers get caught once and that’s it—game over. Not Bundy. He jumped out a courthouse library window in Aspen, Colorado in 1977, roaming free for six days before recapture. Then, in December that same year, he escaped AGAIN by sawing through his cell ceiling and losing 30 pounds to squeeze through a light fixture opening. This second escape led to his final, brutal killing spree in Florida.
3. He Proposed During His Own Murder Trial
Nothing says “I’m definitely innocent” like proposing to your girlfriend while on trial for multiple homicides. During his Florida trial, Bundy proposed to Carole Ann Boone while questioning her on the witness stand—exploiting an obscure Florida law that recognized a declaration of marriage in court as legally binding. She said yes. Would I have said yes? Absolutely not. Would I have written to him in prison? Also no. (But I understand the psychology behind those who do!)
4. He Was a Law Student Who Defended Himself in Court
Bundy studied law at the University of Utah and later used his incomplete legal education to represent himself during his murder trials. The judge even complimented his legal skills, telling him he would have made a good lawyer—which might be the creepiest compliment ever given to a serial killer. His decision to act as his own attorney gave him the control he craved and extra media attention.
5. He Helped Catch the Green River Killer
While on death row, Bundy offered insights to help catch another notorious serial killer, Gary Ridgway (the Green River Killer). He suggested investigators should stake out fresh graves, as the killer would likely return to his victims. Bundy knew this because… well, he did it himself. It’s like having Hannibal Lecter consult on Silence of the Lambs, except it actually happened.
6. His Victims All Shared Similar Physical Traits
Bundy had a “type” as obvious as the chalk outline around a body. Most of his victims were white women with long, dark hair parted in the middle—resembling his first girlfriend who had broken up with him. This detail has been analyzed by countless criminal psychologists studying how rejection can trigger violent pathology in certain personalities.
7. He Kept Souvenirs from His Victims
Like many serial killers (a fact I learned from my extensive collection of FBI profiling books), Bundy took “trophies” from his victims. He decapitated at least 12 victims and kept their heads in his apartment for days. According to crime scene investigators, he applied makeup to these remains and performed other unspeakable acts. I’ll spare you the details that kept me awake for three straight nights after reading them.
8. He Was Interviewed by the FBI to Create Criminal Profiles
Before his execution, the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit interviewed Bundy extensively to develop better serial killer profiles. His insights helped create the modern criminal profiling techniques still used today. The recordings of these interviews are available online, and his calm, analytical breakdown of his own crimes is more disturbing than any horror movie I’ve ever watched.
9. He Was Considered Charming and Attractive
Unlike the creepy loner stereotype, Bundy was described as handsome, charismatic, and intelligent. He used his appearance to gain trust, often feigning injury with an arm sling or leg cast to appear vulnerable. This tactic worked repeatedly, proving that our instinct to help others can sometimes put us in danger. (I’ve since developed a personal policy of not helping any strangers who look like they could overpower me—sorry, society.)
10. His Final Body Count Remains Unknown
While Bundy confessed to 30 murders before his execution, investigators believe the actual number could be much higher. Some experts who studied his case suggest it could exceed 100 victims across multiple states. We’ll never know the true count—a fact that haunts victims’ families and true crime researchers alike.
What makes Bundy so endlessly fascinating isn’t just the horror of his crimes but how effectively he maintained his double life. He wasn’t hiding in shadows—he was running for political office, attending law school, and dating normally.
The next time someone asks why I’m obsessed with true crime, I’ll explain that understanding monsters like Bundy might just help us spot the warning signs in others. Or at least that’s what I tell myself as I fall asleep checking that my doors are locked. Twice.