Among the list of most notorious serial killers in the history of the United States, Ted Bundy ranks up there with the worst. Ted Bundy was white Caucasian male that was charged with the murder of at least 30 young women. His first apprehension and arrest occurred on August 16, 1975 when Bundy failed to obey simple traffic rules of a stop sign. Many described Bundy as an ordinary individual, but he was also a very attractive and intelligent criminal (Ramsland, 2012). Dr. Al Carlisle, first psychologist to evaluate Bundy after his arrest, suggests Bundy started his profession of killing while in his teenage years. Dr. Carlisle classified Bundy as a “High Factor 1 Psychopath”, which means he possessed a high intelligence level and did not display …show more content…
any symptoms or signs of psychopathy behavior in his early life (Ramsland, 2012). Some of the characteristics of those classified in this category include pathological lying, manipulative behavior, remorseless, irresponsible, and narcissistic (great sense of self) (Battel & Parson, 2009). It is suggested that Bundy suffered from characteristics of antisocial personality disorder. To develop leads in the investigations, investigators looked at the crimes Bundy committed to find sources of evidence to create a profile.
Investigators analyzed Bundy’s assaults, kidnappings, murders, location of bodies, and victim type. Most of Bundy’s victims were that of white females with stable middle class background (Ramsland, 2012). The range of age between the victims start from as young as 15 up to 25 years, most of which were college students. Ramsland describes that most investigators who were put on the case speculated similarities shared by all the girls Bundy kidnapped and murdered. “All victims fitted the criteria of being young, attractive, about the same hair color, hair parted in the middle, and had similar facial feaures” (Ramsland, 2012). Bundy refuted this belief by investigators later in his evaluation, but investigators insisted that he was obsessed with this particular image in …show more content…
females. Additions to developing a profile for this criminal, investigator focused on his methods and how he operates his crimes.
Victims’ fortunate enough to escape Bundy’s abductions provided great assistance in information about Bundy. Bundy’s failed abduction of Carol DaRonch provided information that he was disguised and impersonating a police officer; other victims described that Bundy disguised as a firefighter (Ramsland, 2012). Investigators suggest that other methods by Bundy involve faking injury to gain attention and assistance from targeted victims. When his target provides assistance, he lures them to his car and would then incapacitate her with a crowbar and handcuff them. According to an article on Ted Bundy by Murderpedia.org, every skull of victims Bundy murdered showed signs of forced damage (murderpedia.org). Dr. Carlisle and other experts believe that Bundy’s amateur attacks consisted of late night forced entries and violent attacks. As he continues his crime spree, Bundy became good at what he did and evolved his attacks to those of a “predator phase”. Bundy became intelligent in planning and strategizing his attacks, and covering his tracks; he was a predator
(murderpedia.org). Though Bundy disproves of beliefs developed by information received about him, the sources proved to be correct. The victims were very similar in their physical features and body type. Detailed description of several victims was provided by the FBI and such victims are as followed: 1. “Carol DaRonch is 18 year old female. She works for a telephone company. DaRonch explains Bundy was dressed as a police officer when he abducted her by convincing her to catch a ride with him to the police station. Bundy tried to force her into handcuffs and incapacitate her, but DaRonch was able to fight him off and luckily escape. 2. Larua Aime, 17 years old, stood 6ft, black hair parted in the middle, was abducted while walking to the park. Aime was found nude and beaten beyond recognition with a crowbar. 3. Melissa Smith, 20 years old, 5ft 3”, was the daughter of a Midvale’s police chief. She was a pretty girl with long dar hair parted in the middle. She was abducted while walking home from a party.” (FBI.gov, 2013) The development of Bundy’s profile was a result of the victims’ profiles; a long but successful process in profiling the predator. Though the profile was developed, investigators failed to capture a suspect. Bundy was only apprehended through failure to a stop at the request of the police officer. Despite, Ted Bundy fitted the descriptions of the profile that described his behavior (Ramsland, 2012). The accuracy of information also came by source of descriptions and reports made by escaped victims such as Carol DaRonch. DaRonch was able to report that he was in disguise to keep the police and targets on the alert for fake police officers and firefighters. DaRonch also reported that Bundy drove a Volkswagon, which he convinced her to take a ride in on the way to the police station. Investigators also mentioned to look out for someone in possession of a crowbar and handcuffs in their car. DaRonch mentioned that she was forced into handcuffs and that she saw a crowbar in the car. The officer that pulled over Bundy reported evidence of handcuffs, a crowbar, and trashbags (Ramsland,2012). The detailed reports by escaped victims and profiles of the kidnapped and murdered victims contributed much to the development of Bundy’s profile.
Arndt, W., Hietpas, T., & Kim, J (2004). Critical characteristics of male serial murderers. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 29(1).
Often, organized killers are associated with a meticulous attitude and a keen attention to detail, they are highly intelligent and well-rehearsed; furthermore, organized killers wait days (or longer) for an opportune time to kill their victims. Organized killers are able to be socially charming and “blend” in with society. Prime examples of organized serial killers are Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy. Infamously, Bundy would use his charismatic charm to persuade women into helping him while he faked an injury, he is also known for his academic success. Known well in the community and he was frequently active in volunteer work, Gacy was able to evade suspicion; additionally, organized serial killers are more likely able to avoid
Throughout history, America has been the home of serial killers, with more than 2,000 throughout history. In this country, America has encountered many different kinds of these sick people. One of the most infamous serial killers throughout American History was Theodore Robert Bundy, also known as Ted Bundy. On November 24, 1946, in Burlington, Vermont, Theodore Robert Bundy was born. When people think of serial killers, they usually see a dirty, insane looking person that would stand out from the average person. In Bundy’s case it was very different. Ted was a very smart individual who had attended 5 different colleges throughout the United States, studying law and eventually getting his degree in psychology at the University of Washington. Bundy was a very handsome and charming man, unlike most other serial killers. Looking helpless and using his good looks, Bundy was able to lure his victims and would knock them unconscious with an object such as a crowbar or a pipe, then would handcuff them inside his car. Once the victims were under his control he would then proceed in kidnapping, raping, sodomizing, and eventually killing them in very harsh ways. Throughout the 70’s, he raped and murdered young women all across the country. Bundy was said to be connected to at least 36 murders, and suspected to have committed one hundred or more.
A pretrial plea bargain was given to Bundy, which was Bundy would plea guilty to the murders of killing Levy, Bowman and Leach. In exchange, Bundy would be sentenced to prison for a firm 75 years. He ultimately declined the offer and decided with trying to win the case, which was not a smart move by Bundy. Bundy thought the prosecutors had no evidence from the Chi Omega sorority, but what he’s about to find out ruins his life. No evidence was recovered at the Chi Omega sorority house like Bundy thought, but two crucial testimonies from sorority members played a big role. Connie Hastings believed she saw Bundy in the house that night, while Nita Neary stated that she saw him escaping the house clasping the oak firewood murder weapon. These testimonies showed that Bundy was in the house and was in the house around the same time of the murders. But with no physical evidence, Bundy could not be found guilty. What Bundy didn’t realize was that there was a piece of evidence from the sorority crime scene. While investigators examined the scene, one officer found the bite marks on Levy’s buttocks. The officer picked up a yellow marker ruler and took photographs of the bite mark. By the time the trial had started the bite mark disappeared, because the tissue around Levy’s buttocks had gone back to its normal color, size and shape. Prosecutors took the photos to forensic odontologist Dr. Richard Souviron.
...words of Ted Bundy, one of the most ruthless serial killers of our time: "Most serial killers are people who kill for the pure pleasure of killing and cannot be rehabilitated. Some of the killers themselves would even say so" (qtd. in Holmes and Deburger 150).
In a study conducted by Hickey, he discovered that out of thirty-four female serial killers, almost one in two had a male accomplice committing murders with them (Holmes et al., 1991). He also revealed that 97% were white and the average age the women started committing murders was thirty-three (Holmes et al., 1991). Women serial killers differ from men in that most women kill for material gain, such as money or insurance benefits, and they usually commit murder with pills or poison. Stephen Holmes, Ronald Holmes, and Eric Hickey developed a typology for female serial killers similar to the one developed by Holmes and Holmes, discussed earlier. They begin with visionary serial killers, who are compelled by some force, such as God, or spirits, to commit murders. The second type is the comfort killer, who usually kills acquaintances and does so for a material gain, money or real estate (Holmes et al., 1991). The third category is hedonistic female serial killers, which is similar to the earlier typology in that the offender connects murder with sexual gratification. This is the least represented category for female offenders, but evidence for this type of killer can be seen in the case of Carol Bundy (Holmes et al., 1991). Bundy allegedly helped her husband kidnap, murder, and decapitate the
Ted Bundy Ted Bundy's Trail of Terror From the Beginning of Taking Life Until The End of His Life. Serial killers tend to be white heterosexual males in their twenties and thirties. While it is impossible to predict who will become a serial killer, there are traits that appear to be similar in all killers. These behaviors include cruelty to animals, bedwetting, lying, drug and alcohol abuse, and a history of violence. According to Robert Ressler et al., "serial homicide involves the murder of separate victims with time breaks between victims, as minimal as two days to weeks or months.
Another criminology theory that may apply to help explain the criminal behavior of Ted Bundy is the Psychodynamic theory. This theory is largely based on the findings of Sigmund Freud. The underpinnings of this of the approach are that the unconscious mind affects behavior and emotion. The theory advances the argument that no behavior is without cause and that childhood experiences affect emotions and behavior as adults. Serial killers like Ted Bundy therefore are particularly affected by their unconscious mind. Bundy did not receive proper care as a young boy and the negative impact of his sense of rejection and isolation negatively impacted his adulthood with aggressive tendencies. In short, Bundy’s adult actions under this theory can be viewed as manifesting his anger over his childhood oppression in the form of brutal rapes and
Laurence Miller, PhD is a clinical and forensic psychologist and law enforcement educator based in Florida, specialising in the field of criminal profiling. The principal motive of the article is to present a categorisation of the different paths to becoming a serial killer or violent offender. It also looks into the brain mechanisms and abnormalities that allegedly trigger violence, but also the sociocultural, psychodynamic and cognitive elements that aid the development of a serial killer.
Ressler believed extensive interviews with several serial killers could providing vital information to the profiling program. The program could learn so much from the serial killers themselves, such as their motives, background and choice in victims. Such information could be used to construct a detailed map of the killer mind. He arranged interviews with thirty six serial killers to compile commonalities between criminal backgrounds and motives behind their killings. Two of his interviewees were the notorious Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy. Both of these individuals are profiled as organized serial killers. Organized serial killers generally preplans their crime, have an above average IQ and are socially adequate. Ressler considers the organized serial killer as the most dangerous because of their ability to live normally in society and still be a lethal
Ted Bundy was an American born rapist, a necrophile, a serial killer and a kidnapper who assaulted and murdered several young women during the 1970’s. The criminal kept on denying the charges for more than ten years and later confessed to having committed the thirty homicide crimes in seven different states before his execution (Rule, 2009). Bundy’s handsome and charismatic appearance made it possible for him to easily win the confidence of young women who were always his targets. He broke into the dwellings of his victims at night and bludgeoned them as they slept. He also approached young women in public places where he impersonated an authority figure or feigned injury on his victim before empowering and assaulting them in a more secluded area where he left them dead (Rule, 2009).
The exact number of women Bundy raped and killed will never be known. Ted Bundy displayed his victims heads in his apartment and slept with their corpse until the rotting of the body was unbearable. Ted tended to watch college campuses first in Washington, then in Utah and Colorado, and finally in Florida. Ted was arrested first in Utah but managed to escape and continue his killing spree. Bundy often wore his arm in a sling or in a fake cast or his leg in a fake cast. That way he could ask his victims to help him carry things to and from his car. Once the victim was in his car or bent over he would hit them with a crowbar or pipe. After hitting them he would handcuff them to immobilize them. Ted Bundy was an intelligent, good looking man and many of his victims did not fear or question him because he didn’t look like the type of man to rape and
Serial killers have many frightening facets. The most frightening thing about them is that experts still do not know what makes a human become a serial killer. Many experts believe serial killers become what they are because they have a genetic disposition or brain abnormality while other experts believe that a serial killer is created by childhood abuse; and some other experts believe that it is a combination of both brain abnormalities and abusive childhood experiences that creates a serial killer. A murderer is considered a serial killer when they “murder three or more persons in at least three separate events with a “cooling off period” between kills” (Mitchell and Aamodt 40). When defining a serial killer, their background, genes, and brain are not mentioned; perhaps one day those aspects of the serial killer can be included.
In addition, Bundy would tell interviewers that he did not feel for his victims proving that he had no empathy for them which qualifies him a score of two. (T, 2017). The following trait is a failure to accept responsibility for their own actions. Bundy claims that he was not responsible for the death of the many females that he killed because it was their fault due to being so easily fooled and manipulated this causes him to receive a score of two once again (A&E Television Networks 2017). Another trait in this facet is the need for stimulation/proneness to boredom which is when an individual gets bored easily and need to part take in provocative activities constantly.
Society and media also played a role in creating Bundy. “Children learn what they see––and unfortunately, in our country through news reports, movies, and television, and everyday life in many parts of our country, children see violence; and they do not learn that violence is bad. Too often, they learn that violence is an acceptable way to resolve conflict; furthermore, many children, because of their home and neighborhood environments, have little opportunity to learn about alternative ways to settle disputes” (Osofsky 4). Bundy watched his grandfather act violently and vulgar, leading to him partaking in similar behaviors. Social learning theory can be placed at the forefront of reasoning for Bundy’s actions, but all of the factors that lead to the creation of his vicious, sadistic crimes may never be