Following watching Netflix's new original "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile," Ted Bundy sparked an interest in me. I began researching the real story. I questioned how a genius law student and a seemingly normal young man could commit such violent crimes.
Along with my never-ending research about Ted, I found many unknown facts about him that seemed extremely coincidental.
1. In the early 1970's, Ted worked for a suicide hotline in Seattle.
He reportedly spoke to callers and was able to ease them with his magic charm. Pretty coincidental, if you ask me.
2. Ted grew up with a terrible family situation.
When Ted's methodist mother got pregnant with him, her family was ashamed and embarrassed. As a result, she was sent to Vermont to birth Ted as a secret. After giving birth, her father, Sam Cowell, visited the home for the unwed mothers and retrieved Ted.
Sam and Louise's mother pretended they adopted Ted. Ted even grew up believing his mother was his sister. The truth eventually came out, but it is unknown how old Ted was when he discovered his family secret.
Ted never knew who his father was. The father on his birth certificate was named Lloyd Marshall. However, his mother has made multiple claims that she was seduced by a sailor named Jack Worthington. After an investigation, evidence was shown that there was never anyone by that name registered in the Navy or Marines. There have been claims from Ted's family that Louise's abusive father, Sam, seduced and impregnated her with Ted.
3. Ted's spark of interest in killing may have stemmed from his grandfather.
His short-tempered, abusive grandfather had an obsession with pornography and violent sex. Ted was also exposed to his collection at a very young age. It is unknown if Ted was ever sexually abused as a young child, but there have been multiple claims by family relatives.
4. Ted's killings date back to when he was 14 years old.
No one knows when Ted started killing, but there was some evidence that suggested Ted killed an 8-year-old girl by the name of Ann Marie Burr.
One weekend spent with his aunt, he placed multiple butcher knives under the covers as she was sleeping. When she awoke and noticed she was surrounded by weapons, Ted could not stop laughing.
5. Ted attended college and studied two subjects.
He was a law student and he also studied Chinese for two years before dropping out. After dropping out, he picked up multiple minimum wage jobs.
6. Ted decapitated 12 of his victims. Of course, the ones we are aware of.
Ted confessed to 30 killings, but the number is said to be much higher. He would put the heads of his victims in his apartment. I guess he thought of it as a medal for what he had done.
7. All of his victims that law enforcement was aware of looked very similar to his college sweetheart, Stephanie Brooks.
Brooks cut ties with Bundy due to his "lack of ambition" and "immaturity". All of his females portrayed Brooks. All white females between the ages of 15-25, with long brown hair with a middle part. They were all college students with middle-class backgrounds as well.
8. During the trial, many women became fans of Ted Bundy.
Ted was a master at charming young women. He manipulated them into becoming infatuated with him. He was a man with no personality; just the ability to manipulate others in order to get what he wanted.
Many young women were infatuated with him during the trial because of his charm and confidence. They were fans of a serial killer.
9. Ted Bundy married and had a child with a fellow prisoner.
While behind bars, Ted met Carole Ann Boone who he married and also had a daughter with. Rose, Ted's daughter, eventually changed her name and lives a private life hidden from the public.