New DNA Testing Confirms Ted Bundy Killed Utah Teen Laura Aime in 1974, Sheriff Says
New DNA testing showed that bodily fluid recovered from 1974 victim Laura Ann Aime’s body matched Ted Bundy’s DNA, and investigators said the result confirms Bundy killed the Utah teen. Bundy had long ago confessed to the slaying, but Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith said there was not enough evidence to officially close the case until this new DNA match.
📌 Key Facts
- New DNA testing recently performed on a bodily fluid found on Laura Ann Aime’s body produced a DNA profile that matched Ted Bundy.
- The victim was Utah teen Laura Ann Aime, who was murdered in 1974.
- Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith said the DNA match confirms Bundy killed Aime.
- Authorities note Bundy had previously confessed to Aime’s murder, but investigators lacked sufficient evidence to officially close the case until this new DNA result.
- The Wall Street Journal reported these developments on April 1, 2026.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, the homicide clearance rate through arrest was 51.6% for White victims and 43.4% for Black victims in the United States.
Homicide Victimization in the United States, 2023 — Bureau of Justice Statistics
Homicide clearance rates are higher for female victims (60.6%) than for male victims (53.9%) based on data from 2007-2017.
Homicide clearance rate by victim race/ethnicity, 2007-2017 — ResearchGate
Ted Bundy's confirmed victims were all young White females, aged between 12 and 26, with many being college students.
Ted Bundy - Wikipedia — Wikipedia
From 1976 to 2005, homicide victimization rates for White females were lower than for Black females, with rates for Black females being approximately 3-4 times higher in many years.
Homicide trends in the United States — Bureau of Justice Statistics
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Wall Street Journal confirms authorities’ statement that bodily fluid left on Laura Ann Aime’s body was recently tested and matched to Ted Bundy’s DNA.
- Reiterates that Bundy had previously confessed to the murder but there was not enough evidence to officially close the case until this new DNA result.
- Provides attribution that Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith is the official citing the lack of earlier evidence and the new match.