THE TRAIL OF TED BUNDY: Digging Up the Untold Stories
THE TRAIL OF TED BUNDY is available now !
A look into the life of serial killer Ted Bundy, from those who knew him, to those who chased him, and from those who mourned his many victims…
Kevin Sullivan follows up on his widely acclaimed The Bundy Murders with the “untold” back stories in THE TRAIL OF TED BUNDY.
The Trail of Ted Bundy: Digging Up the Untold Stories, is a journey back in time, to when Ted Bundy was killing young women and girls in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. It’s told by those who knew him, and you’ll hear their revealing stories, many being voiced and put to print for the very first time. The friends of the victims are here as well, and they too share their insights about the victims, and some of what they tell here had been held back from the investigators, such was their commitment to their deceased friends.
It’s also the story of those who hunted Bundy; those who guarded him, and those who otherwise were a part of this strange case one way or another.
The book also offers fresh information from the official record in areas not covered in the first book. To have added these “extras” in The Bundy Murders, wouldn’t have made any sense at the time, yet they do make perfect sense here. And finally, for this book, I travelled to every state where Bundy operated except Florida to tell this tale, and I’ve added many of the insights I’ve gained from my years of study into this very elusive and diabolical killer.
Catch up with Kevin Sullivan’s On the Trail of Ted Bundy video blog series here!
From the book:
“Anyone today visiting the house where Lynda Ann Healy lived with her friends, as I did in July 2015, will find it in a very nice neighborhood that is well maintained; perhaps better maintained now than in 1974. Standing in front of the structure, there is no obvious reminder that evil once invaded this dwelling in the middle of the night. Just off to the right of the front door, on the side of the house, is the door leading to the basement. It was through this door that Bundy would carry Lynda out into the chilly night air.
As I walked up the steps my mind was riveted on that night. I thought of Bundy, and how he also had walked up these steps before slowly turning the doorknob that cold evening to see if it was unlocked. Having already written The Bundy Murders, I was well aware of what transpired there, and, at such a moment, it all becomes so very real. Indeed, in my view, the Lynda Healy abduction is the strangest of his career, and I don’t ever expect to hear of one more bizarre, either from the past or in the future.”
From the author:
Sullivan’s book will feature several rarely seen photos of Bundy and people associated with his murderous spree, including the photograph while in custody in Utah between 1975 and 1976. Photo courtesy of the Salt Lake Tribune
As I have mentioned in a previous blog and in conversations with friends, I never expected to write another book about Ted Bundy. After The Bundy Murders was published in 2009, writing anything about Bundy, beyond the occasional article, was out. I had no interest in delving again into his madness and his many victims; victims I have come to “know” so well, that it sometimes feels like I knew them long ago in real life. So writing another book was off my radar, and my stance was non-negotiable. And then, in the spring of 2015, I learned that one of the participants in the case was undergoing serious medical issues.
This brought to mind several of the folks who had died in the past couple of years; and this included my friend, Lorraine Fargo, a close friend of Bundy victim, Kathy Parks, who contacted me after The Bundy Murders was published. And in an instant, I knew one last Bundy book was in order. This time, however, I determined to add those voices whose stories had not yet been told. As a historian, I knew this was the right thing to do.
And so my journey began. And before too long I was uncovering important stories that had been hidden within the hearts and minds of so many, but are now presented to you and all those who read these pages in the future. And with this, my last contribution to the Bundy saga, I bid you all a happy reading!
“Despite the multitude of books about Bundy, The Bundy Murders offers fresh material and ideas about Bundy’s predatory movements. Well researched and highly recommended, for Bundy scholars and true crime fans alike.“–Katherine Ramsland, author of The Human Predator and The Devil’s Dozen
‘Insightful, well researched, and well written…highly recommend[ed] for any true crime reader, or any reader wanting to know more about Bundy or about deviant personalities. In fact, this book should be required reading for any student of psychology or criminal law.’–Psychotic State.com
‘Unearths new and horrifying evidence of other murders and graphic new details about the most notorious and fascinating serial killer of all time…provides the most in-depth examination of the killer and his murders ever conducted…a must-read for all true crime fans.’–Dan Zupansky, author of Trophy Kill: The Shall We Dance Murder and host of True Murder: The Most Shocking Killers in True Crime History
‘The Bundy Murders is scholarly and yet, at the same time, compelling and mesmerizing. Couldn’t put it down. This is crime writing at its very best!‘–Gary C. King, author of The Murder of Meredith Kercher and Rage
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Hi Kevin, the Lynda Healy abduction is the strangest one that Ted ever did and does seem incredibly risky to all of us but was it really that much of a risk after all?
Several factors would have aided Ted: from what I can see the abduction of Lynda happened on a Thursday night/early hours of Friday. This meant that most people were already in bed due to get up for work or college the next day. Had he chosen a Friday or Saturday night the risk of detection would have been far greater as students would have been coming and going from nightclubs or returning home.
Also she lived in an area populated mainly by students who were transient. Had she lived in an area populated by retirees or homemakers Ted may never have pulled it off.
Lastly the fact that Ted was a psychology student helped as he would have stalked not only Lynda but her friends and housemates as he would have wanted to learn about the routines, vulnerabilities and weaknesses of all – especially the latter. Obviously intoxicated housemates may have helped. Also the fact that Elise saw a shadow that fatal night but her housemates dismissed her as a worrier may well be evidence of this.
I wonder what would have happened had Elise spoken to Lynda regarding this and insisted that she sleep upstairs?
No doubt he had entered the house by day many times and a good sense of the layout.
Was Ted rebuffed by Lynda Healy? We will never never know. Even if he was he may have helped to forge a friendship between her and his cousin who was in her class for his own benefit
I’d like to know your thoughts on all of the above.
Hi E!
Well, if you haven’t read my book, The Bundy Murders: A Comprehensive History, I discuss these things in a little more detail than I can here. However, here is my view on the Lynda Healy abduction. First, had this happened in an old folks neighborhood, Ted would have been on much safer ground, and the older generation is usually asleep at that time. But this was a university district, filled with young people in all directions. Therefore, some segment of the college crowd would be moving about that night, as well as regular traffic from those who are out on their routine work duties. And so, if there were any college kids roaming about, while it wouldn’t be strange to see Bundy enter the residence, it would have been horrific had they seen him coming out the side door carrying a woman who wasn’t moving, or something wrapped in a blanket but no mistaking it for a body. And so, where this was occurring put Bundy in a high risk situation: 1. College kids area. 2. After he stepped out of the house he was vulnerable to being see whichever direction he headed -to the rear allay where an apartment complex looked over this location; or the front of the house which would be carrying most of the traffic, both foot traffic and cars. Bundy wasn’t stupid, so he knew this abduction would carry a good degree of risk, but apparently he didn’t care as he believed he’d carry it out without a hitch, as it were, and he did.
Also, we do not know if Bundy was ever in that home prior to her abduction. There’s absolutely nothing in the record that proves he was there at any time. But there is the possibility that Bundy knew Healy, but even this isn’t conclusive. I do believe that Ted made those “voiceless” calls to the house that evening, so there was some type of connection.
As to where she slept that night, I can only say that she no doubt felt safe (her roommate was just on the other side of a thin piece of plywood), so that sighting that night might not have made any difference as to where she slept. However, it might have made a difference in as much as they would have made sure the doors were locked. And had all doors and windows have been locked, Bundy would have no doubt walked away; that is, he took advantage of these things in both murder and theft, and he liked folks leaving themselves vulnerable like this.
I hope this helps!
Kevin
Hi Kevin
Thanks for replying. Yes great input and it helps. The reason why I suggest that Ted had been in the Healy residence before is that he almost certainly did that with Chi Omegas 4 years later in Florida. Remember Ann Rule asks the question in her book how did he know where his victims were sleeping? The Housemother felt that he had sounded it out that very afternoon when every resident was out for the day. When they came back they saw that the cat was terrified and it disappeared for 2 weeks – the time they were allowed back into the house again. Of course there is no evidence that he did that with Lynda Healy but I would bet he did because he would have wanted to know if there were men in the house for one thing which were obvious deterrents and of course speed was of the essence and there was the risk of being caught.
Yes it is possible that he could have been seen with a body but I am sure he thought of how to get out of it – such as taking a drunk girl home or to hospital.
The Chi Omega murders bear some similarity with Lynda Healy’s in that both victims were attacked in their sleep and both came from a bar or nightclub.
And like you, I have no doubt that Bundy made those phone calls after the abduction. Yes a pity that the warning wasn’t passed around to lock the doors – someone was outside. But Bundy may have found another way to get in or abduct Lynda at some other time?
One thing occurred to me about the Lynda Healy murder. As far as I can see she is the only one whose house was broken into who was physically transported from the scene. The Chi Omega girls and Joni Lenz/Sharon Clarke were not. This made me wonder if Robert Keppel was right- maybe Lynda had been asked out by Ted and refused him and I theorise her punishment was more severe on this account? Nothing worse for a family not to know where their daughter is and not to have a full body when they do. Or maybe with the Chi Omega and Sharon Clarke attacks Ted was pushed for time?
We will never know if Ted knew Lynda but I think there is a good chance they did as they were in the same classes and likely attended parties.
Well, to be honest, as a nonfiction writer, I avoid speculation like the plague. Speculation is almost always wrong and a dead end road. I speculated about two things in The Bundy Murders having to do with the Kathy Parks abduction from OSU as there was strong circumstantial evidence that it was true, and when Lorraine Fargo contacted me after the publication of the book, she confirmed both of these. And with all due respect to other writers, and the investigators, I stay within the known facts. What follows are the known facts about the Healy and Chi Omega murders:
Someone was seen outside the Healy home, and I believe that was Bundy. He told Stephen Michaud that he (after following them home from Dante’s Tavern) tried the front door, found it unlocked, but did not enter it. He said he determined to come back later and commit that crime. These are the established facts, and there is NOTHING in the record that proves he ever entered that residence; it just isn’t there, and speculation will lead to nowhere per any real and valid answers.
The same goes for Chi Omega. Chi O was located right next door to Sherrod’s, and while I think Bundy checked it out prior to the attack (maybe days before the attack), there’s NO EVIDENCE he entered the residence prior to the night of the attack.
Btw: As to Bundy not knowing where each person was sleeping, so how would he locate them? In my opinion (and again, there’s nothing in the record about this), all of Bundy’s victims were random, and not personally selected in these two cases. In other words, no solid link has EVER been drawn from Bundy to Healy, only speculation.
He apparently also had checked out Cheryl Thomas’ Dunwoody duplex FROM THE OUTSIDE, and entered it at a later time.
I hope this helps, E. 🙂
Kevin
Hi kevin. I was wondering if you know of any evidence that states 100% that Ted actually kept 1 of his victims (Ott) alive while he went back for Naslund. I’ve heard different stories but i’d like to know what you’ve heard. And also if true, what happens after he brought Naslund back and who got killed first or what happened in between that time frame.
Thanks
Hi Jamal…Yes, it’s true Bundy kept Janice Ott alive until he came back with Denise Naslund, and here’s why: Bundy first admitted it while speaking in the third-person to Stephen Michaud, and I quote a passage from his book concerning this in my new book, The Enigma of Ted Bundy. Also, Bundy admitted it to Bill Hagmaier. As to what he was doing with Ott, he would have been sexually assaulting her. I doubt he would have been talking with her outside of ordering her to do certain things, etc.
Oh okay thanks for the clarification. Now, do you have any info on who exactly he killed first or can you make an educated guess? And also, for these 2 specific murders, were they both strangulation? If they are (I’m pretty sure they were) , did Bundy manually strangle them with his own bare hands or with some type of cord?
Thanks again Kevin.
Bundy never (to my knowledge) spoke of the method by which he killed them or which woman died first. I know he was pressed for time as he wanted to meet Liz, so it may have been a quick attack with the crowbar, but that’s just an educated guess on my part. When he did strangle his victims he often used an electrical cord (the pics I took of Bundy’s murder kit while it was in my home, shows an orange electrical cord), but there were times he’d use a rope as well; and in rare cases (like Laura Aime) he used a woman’s sock, no doubt her sock.
Oh okay, so in the Lake Sammamish cases, he got both women to walk to his car from the park, willingly by ruse of a sailboat, get in the car, and then he would drive off into a secluded area? And when he killed them, did he leave their remains there or transport their bodies to another area where their bones were found 2 months later?
Hi Kevin
Only saw this now but I do remember that from reading Ann Rule’s book, she asked the Chi Omega housemother how did Bundy know where to go. The answer was that on the wall inside there was a list of each girl’s name and in which room they were sleeping in.
Speculation, admittedly is probably pointless now. Bundy took a lot of answers to his grave. I would be inclined to agree with Ann Rule, that some of the girls were chosen at random while others were watched for long periods.
Despite myself I would add that Bundy probably would have made it his priority to know where the girls slept at least in some cases. Knowing the layout of the house would have reduced the possiblitly of error and getting caught.
Also didn’t Bundy say himself that he was peering through girls’ bedroom window from the street watching them undress before his execution?
I believe that even if he didn’t go into the Healy residence before that fatal night he definitely was watching Lynda from outside.
Hi Eimeara,
Well, despite what the housemother said, there is NO evidence that Bundy saw any type of list of residents. Moreover, there is no evidence he “knew” any of the girls he attacked. He had been trying to pick up girls at Sherrod’s next door for a number of hours prior to the murders. He had also attempted to chase a woman down earlier in the night who just happened to be a faster runner than Bundy, according to police reports. So I think Chi O was an attack of last resort, and I think the housemother might have been speculating when she said this. And, of course, it’s been so long we’ll never know the exact mechanics concerning that night.
Bundy did enjoy peering into windows in search of disrobing females, but these would have been first floor apartments and not the Chi O second story rooms. However, I do believe Bundy watched a number of the girls both leaving and entering Chi O that night, and so the sorority house was certainly on his mind.I think it is pure speculation to say that Bundy watched any of the Chi O girls for “long periods”. we have nothing in the record that speaks to this, and what we do have points to it being very unlikely.
As to Healy, I believe Bundy followed her and her friends home from Dante’s Tavern that night, and I think he knew all about who Healy was; making it at least possible (maybe probable) that he was after her that night.
I hope this helps. 🙂
Kevin
very good work!! i think he got my girlfriend kim she hitchhiked up by tacoma washington .I do miss her.
my name is also kim.
Hi Kim…
Sorry about your friend. Do you know what month and year she disappeared, and any other info that might be of use, to see if we can match it to where Bundy was at the time?
I know someone who thinks that she was in the car with Bundy, in Mobile, Alabama. Do you know about this?
No. But I don’t believe Bundy was ever in Mobile, Alabama. One thing I’ve encountered in my years of researching and writing books about Ted Bundy, is the seemingly innumerable number of people who believe they’ve encountered him. And almost without exception, it was impossible for that to be true. Very often, these beliefs are easily ruled out simply by geography (they weren’t anywhere near Bundy at the time, and we can often track him through the records), but often they will still insist “I saw him”. So, it happens a lot. Of the folks I know that I’m convinced MAY have had an encounter with Bundy, there’s only two. And there is only one lady who I absolutely believe encountered Ted, and she was smart enough not to get into his car. I hope this helps.
Hi Kevin
Sorry for taking so long to reply to your comments. It is very interesting to see the feedback . I have one question for you – let’s say for argument – that Ted had never been inside the Healy residence before the abduction – and Lynda was his target what would Ted have done if Lynda had decided to swap rooms and move upstairs ( for change of scene etc) or if she had an extra guest in her room in a sleeping bag. Do you think Ted would still have gone upstairs? He might have attracted a lot of attention or do you think he would have attacked the replacement/ extra guest in the basement so as not to waste time?
Hi E,
Well, we’ll never know if Healy was Bundy’s actual target that evening, and to say otherwise would be pure speculation. But even if she was, there’s no way to know what he would do. However, because Bundy was an opportunist,had there been another woman in Healy’s bed, he may not have minded it too much, as he wasn’t all that picky when he was out hunting for victims. But beyond this, there’s only speculation.
Hi Kevin, personally I believe Lynda could have been a target- not entirely sure why maybe because Detective Roger Dunn mentioned that Lynda had been in the supermarket the very same day as Ted (didn’t he cash a cheque ) and surmised that he was following her – staying out of view behind shelves and others speculate that he was in Dante’s and followed her but we’ll never know. There was only one person in charge of the investigation…. Ted. Okay, I am going off on a tangent here and I will try to answer my own question. I am inclined to agree with you – Ted wasn’t always picky when it came to victims . They didn’t always have long dark hair parted in the middle. . So if he found someone else in Healy’s room – I guess it all depended on his mood. Maybe he would have gone for the person there instead rather than prowl through the whole house for Lynda which would have been a risky task as he would have had to carry her body downstairs and risk dropping her or bumping into a room mate. Also dressing her would have meant he would have had to put the light on and that too could have attracted attention upstairs. Sorry for the speculation but I do enjoy your posts and books.
Ps I do think that Ted could have been inside that house although there is no evidence but for one thing he would have wanted to make sure Lynda’s alarm clock was set for a certain time. If by chance her employer wanted her in earlier that might have discomded Ted.
I am in agreement with you that this was the most bizarre of all the murders and we are unlikely to see anything like it again. (Hopefully not any way)
Can you please upload your visit to Lynda Healy’s home on Youtube?
A couple of things: One, Healy could have been a target, but maybe not. Beyond this we will never know. That they were both in that store that same day means nothing. There could easily have been several thousand people who came in and out of the store throughout the day and night, with no connection to each other than perhaps they’re students (many of them), at the University of Washington. Would Bundy have gone throughout the house hunting for her? I doubt that, but we’ll never know.
When Bundy, speaking in the third person, told Michaud (0f The Only Living Witness) about that person watching them from inside Dante’s tavern, you can bet on it that it happened just that way. Plus, he says that the person (himself) tried the front door later that evening, found it unlocked, but decided to return later so he could enter when he knew everyone would be asleep.
Unfortunately, I did not make a video while at the Healy residence.
Take care,
Kevin
Hi Kevin
Yeah I know what you mean : if I or several others are in the same store or place as you that in itself doesn’t nesseccarily suggest stalking. . I read the Michaud book, and I think there is some truth in it but I was never one to believe everything Ted said. Personally I believe he liked playing with investigators and journalists.
Also in response to my question last year how did he get away with it? Well I think the weather helped. It was windy from what I read and not many people would have wanted to step outside on a cold night. Similarly in the Anne Marie Burr case the thunder that night greatly assisted Ted.
Do you plan to take any videos of Lake Sammamish or have you been there yet?
I have never heard of Ted being in Alabama. So many people say they encountered him such as Debbie Harry of Blondie in New York but I doubt that one.
As for the lady you know who did not get into his car are you allowed go into details about her situation ( Not name her) or does she prefer to keep this confidential?
There were times when the weather did work against Bundy, but I have no idea if weather played any part in the Healy abduction. As far as the Burr abduction, from everything I’ve learned, the thunder storm had long passed through the city of Tacoma by that time.
I was at lake Sammamish on July 15, 2015, and I did make a video, but I’ve passed it on to my publisher and it’s never been posted. Perhaps they’ll put it up in the future.
That lady you’re referring to contacted me and I have included her story in my last Bundy book, The Bundy Secrets. And just in case you don’t know, in my second book, The Trail of Ted Bundy: Digging Up the Untold Stories, I visited many of the Bundy sites and have lots of info about them. 🙂
I’ve always been intrigued by serial killers and how their minds work/worked. It’s a sick world. Not that I look up to these individuals, or believe what they did is/was okay. Most of these serial killers/mass Murderers’ had/have very high IQs’. I’m interested in visiting the Northwest and figured I’d drop a note on here to inquire about a site or how I can obtain more information on the Bundy routes. Along with visiting for leisure Id like to visit some of these sites. If anyone can reply with information on this I’d truly appreciate it. ❤️
Hi Sara,
If you pick up a copy of my book, The Trail of Ted Bundy, it has a lot of info about these sites and will prove useful to you.
Thanks for the contact!
Is there any possibility at all that Bundy could have been in Mobile, Alabama sometime during 1975-1977, particularly around the University of south Alabama?
Hi Ann,
No chance whatsoever. In the winter of 1975, Bundy was killing women in Colorado. By spring he was killing in Idaho, with perhaps more murders in the Colorado/Utah area. By August he was arrested in Utah, and we can easily track his movements between August 75 through Oct. 75 when he was arrested for the second time in Utah. From this point onward the only place Bundy traveled to was home to Seattle and he was there from Late November until he returned to Salt Lake City in late January (or thereabouts) to stand trial for the abduction of Carol DaRonch that February of 1976. He was convicted and was then sent to the Utah State Prison where he remained until he was transferred to Colorado to stand trial there. He escaped once in CO but was recaptured within 6 days. His second escape took him to Florida in January 1978 where he murdered again and was arrested for the last time.
I have given you this timeline so you’ll have no doubt about what I’m saying. 🙂
Hi Kevin,
I have two separate Ted Bundy issues that are I just can not let go. The first; my address in 1974 was on Holladay Blvd. Holladay Utah. Behind my house was Cottonwood Creek. Down the road, was The Cotton Bottom a “beer bar” and also Holladay Blvd would have been the way not only up Cottonwood canyon, but also to I 15 South to Provo. I’m pretty sure it was him who tried to get my girlfriend and myself to go with him and who was acting very, very guilty as if we caught him doing something bad. However, my girlfriend moved April of 74. I just can’t let go that it was him and that we caught him doing something really bad. He sure the hell came at us and tried to get us to go with him.
The second thing.. My family is from Sanpete County Utah. I also ironically lived in Milburn. There is nothing in Milburn. Milburn isn’t even a town. There isn’t even a store, sign or anything else in Milburn.
In an interview just prior to his death and was asked where a body was, he said, “someplace between Milburn and Manatee.” I’m sure he meant Manti, but then also mentioned Mayfield. Both Milburn and Mayfield are “non towns.” How in the hell he remembered and said “Millburn” that many years later.. Milburn hardly shows up on a map. I know a patella was found up Fairview canyon, but naming Milburn and Mayfield makes me wonder.
Everytime I try to discount Bundy wasn’t in Holladay at that time, I just haven’t been able to.
Hi Andrea, and thanks for the contact!
I would love to hear more about your story, but I’d like to do it through email. As such, I will email you and you can respond with more detail.
And yes, that was Bundy’s confession to Salt lake County detective, Dennis Couch, about a day before the execution, and he was referring to Debra Kent. Anyway, I’m looking forward to corresponding with you.
Thanks again,
Kevin
Hey kevin, so in the Lake Sammamish cases, he got both women to walk to his car from the park, willingly by ruse of a sailboat, get in the car, and then he would drive off into a secluded area? And when he killed them, did he leave their remains there or transport their bodies to another area where their bones were found 2 months later?
Hey Jamal…Well, we don’t know the actual ruse he used on Naslund, but it may have been the sailboat thing. And he did transport the bodies to where they were later found. As such, we don’t know where they were actually killed.
Wow, I find that incredibly bold of him on this specific lake sammamish case. The fact that he actually left Janice tied up somewhere secluded, and risked her escaping. to go back is very bold in my opinion. I mean there so many things i find crazy about, like the fact i said about leaving the one girl tied up, but do you think he left Ott her unconscious to not risk anything or he shut her mouth with some type of tape or rope?
I think I mentioned earlier that Ott was likely bound to a tree and gagged, and I doubt she was struck with the crowbar. As such, she was fully aware of what was happening to her.
It’s reported that Ott was abducted around 12:30 and Naslund at 4:30, if those were the exact times, then what do you think bundy was doing with ott for over 3 hours other then sexually assaulting here, until he decided to come back for DN?