DNA Testing Links Serial Killer Ted Bundy to Another Utah Teen’s 1974 Murder

DNA evidence has linked serial killer Ted Bundy to the 1974 murder of Melissa Ann Smith, a 17-year-old Utah teenager. Summit County Attorney Margaret Olson announced the findings at a news conference on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The discovery came 52 years after hunters found Smith’s body. Investigators said the DNA results, alongside other evidence, supported their conclusion that Bundy killed her. The breakthrough marks a significant development in a cold case that remained unsolved for more than five decades.

Bundy died in Florida’s electric chair in 1989 after authorities convicted him of murdering two women at Florida State University’s Chi Omega sorority house in 1978. Investigators have linked him to at least 30 murders of women and girls during the 1970s across several states, including Utah, Florida, Colorado, Idaho and Washington. The latest DNA findings add another case to Bundy’s record of suspected killings and demonstrate how advances in forensic science can help investigators pursue justice in long-unsolved murders.

DNA Evidence Links Ted Bundy to Melissa Ann Smith’s 1974 Murder

Melissa Ann Smith disappeared on October 18, 1974, after leaving a pizza restaurant in Midvale, Utah. She was 17 and the daughter of Midvale Police Chief Louis Smith. Nine days later, hunters found her body in a wooded area near the Summit County line. However, investigators could not solve the murder for more than five decades. Sgt. Mike Reynolds of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office said forensic evidence collected during Smith’s autopsy contained a DNA profile that closely matched one linked to serial killer Ted Bundy. The announcement follows an April 2026 breakthrough, when authorities linked Bundy to the murder of another 17-year-old Utah teenager, Laura Ann Aime.

Investigators also examined the circumstances of Smith’s murder before reaching their conclusion. Summit County Attorney Margaret Olson said the evidence aligned with Bundy’s pattern of behavior, motive, means and opportunity. Together, these findings supported the conclusion that Bundy killed Smith. However, authorities have not publicly disclosed the specific laboratory technique they used to analyze the DNA evidence.

Preserved DNA Evidence May Help Solve More Ted Bundy Cold Cases

The investigation into Melissa Ann Smith’s 1974 murder highlights the importance of preserving biological evidence. Advances in DNA analysis can help investigators re-examine old samples and uncover new leads in cold cases that have remained unsolved for decades. Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera emphasized the value of retaining forensic evidence. In addition, authorities contacted Smith’s next of kin after announcing the findings.

Meanwhile, authorities continue to examine the 1974 disappearance and death of 16-year-old Nancy Wilcox, another possible Bundy victim in Utah. The Smith case shows how preserved DNA evidence can help law enforcement revisit unresolved murders long after a suspect’s death. For families who have waited decades for answers, renewed forensic testing may uncover crucial leads and bring them closer to understanding what happened to their loved ones.

Web Resources On DNA Links Ted Bundy to 1974 Utah Teen Murder

1. CNN : Serial killer Ted Bundy is linked to another Utah teenager’s 1974 murder through DNA testing.
2. The Guardian : DNA links serial killer Ted Bundy to 1974 murder of Utah girl.
3. ABC: DNA links serial killer Ted Bundy to death of teenage girl in 1974.
4. Academic Block : The Life and Crimes of Ted Bundy: A Detailed Analysis.