SPANISH FORK, Utah — After nearly five decades, new DNA evidence has finally solved the mystery of a Utah teenager’s tragic death, conclusively tying it to the notorious serial killer Ted Bundy, as confirmed by the local sheriff’s office on Wednesday.

Laura Ann Aime, a 17-year-old, vanished on Halloween night in 1974 after leaving a party to visit a nearby convenience store. Her lifeless body was discovered a month later, discarded along a highway, bound and brutalized, stripped of clothing.

While suspicions had long swirled around Bundy’s involvement—he reportedly admitted as much in conversations prior to his execution—investigators held back from formally closing the case until they could substantiate the claims with concrete evidence. Bundy, one of the most infamous serial killers in American history, is believed to have been responsible for the deaths of at least 30 women and girls across several states during the 1970s. His reign of terror, marked by attacks in sorority houses and public parks, gripped the nation with fear. Adding to the chilling allure was Bundy’s deceptive charm and good looks, which fascinated the public.

At the time of Aime’s murder, Bundy was residing in Salt Lake City, pursuing law studies at the University of Utah.

During a news conference, Utah County sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Reynolds expressed the deep impact Aime’s loss had on the community: “Laura Aime embodies the spirit of Utah County. We shared in the family’s grief when she was taken from us. This pain has lingered for years, and while we cannot offer complete closure, we hope to provide some measure of healing.”