Ted Bundy posthumously linked to 1974 Utah murder via DNA

Authorities in Utah have used advanced DNA testing to posthumously link serial killer Ted Bundy to the 1974 murder of 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith. The breakthrough occurred after investigators used DNA evidence from a separate case involving another victim, Laura Ann Aime, to identify a match in Smith's remains.

Melissa Smith disappeared in October 1974 after visiting a local pizzeria and was later found by hunters in a wooded area near Park City. While investigators had long suspected Bundy, the case remained officially unsolved until modern forensic technology allowed for the separation of DNA mixtures.

This discovery increases the confirmed victim count for Bundy to 32, surpassing the 30 murders he confessed to before his execution in 1989. Law enforcement officials noted that the case highlights the ongoing importance of preserving forensic evidence for future re-examination as technology evolves.