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Recent advancements in DNA testing have connected the murder of a Utah teenager, who disappeared after attending a Halloween party in 1974, to infamous serial killer Ted Bundy.
The Utah County Sheriff’s Office revealed on April 1 that DNA evidence has linked the death of 17-year-old Laura Ann Aime to Bundy. Investigators managed to match Bundy’s DNA with the samples collected from Aime’s body.
“We now have definitive evidence proving that Theodore Ted Bundy murdered Laura,” Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith said at a press conference, “and we can announce that this case is officially closed.”
Aime vanished under mysterious circumstances on October 31, 1974, after being last seen departing a Halloween celebration.
“Eyewitnesses reported that she left the party alone,” the sheriff’s office stated in a press release, “intending to purchase items from a nearby convenience store.”
Her body was discovered nearly a month later, on November 27—Thanksgiving Day—alongside a highway near State Road 92 in the American Fork Canyon. Authorities described her as being found naked, severely beaten, and bound. A nylon stocking had been used to strangle her.
Nearly a month later, her naked body was discovered “severely beaten” and bound along a highway near State Road 92 in the American Fork Canyon on November 27—Thanksgiving Day—authorities said. A nylon stocking had been used to strangle the teen.
Investigators believed Aime’s body had been recently dumped at the location “suggesting that Laura was kept alive for several days or more after her abduction,” the sheriff’s office noted in the release.
“Bundy was known to utilize all types of ruses and tactics to lure in his victims,” the sheriff’s office continued. “Although Bundy had a desired common physical female preference and attraction, he ultimately killed viciously and indiscriminately to please his desires.”
Ted Bundy Claimed Responsibility for Killing Laura Ann Aime
Although Bundy—who confessed to killing 30 women before his 1989 execution—admitted to taking Aime’s life before his death, he “would not elaborate or give any detail to his actual involvement with the deaths of abductions of the women,” and investigators couldn’t be sure if he had been responsible.
“At the time of his admission, the Utah County Sheriff’s Department and Utah County Attorney’s Office both declined to accept Bundy’s verbal accountability for Laura’s homicide, as the open Utah County case was unable to satisfactorily convict Bundy based upon the evidence in possession and with the available investigative sciences for the time,” authorities explained in the release. “The Sheriff’s Department elected to keep this case open until investigators could prove, without a shadow of doubt, that Bundy was the composer of these heinous crimes to Laura.”
Cold Case Investigators Take New Look At Laura Ann Aime’s Case
Then, in 2025, Smith said at the press conference that Sgt. Mike Reynolds and lead detective Jake Hall decided to take a new look at Aime’s case.
Smith credited the original detectives on the case with doing a “phenomenal job” collecting the evidence, which he said “has endured the years and was pristine” as detectives began the new investigation.
The DNA evidence was submitted to the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services and thanks to advances in forensic technology, authorities were able to confirm in March that the DNA from bodily fluids left on Aime’s body matched Bundy in what Reynolds called a “ final irrefutable blow” to the serial killer.
“Laura Aime is the quintessential daughter of Utah County,” he continued at the press conference. “We felt the pain the family feels when she was taken. We felt the pain that you felt this whole entire time, and we’ve had the desire to deliver to you some type of healing.”
Through their work, Utah authorities established a full DNA profile for Bundy that they hope could help solve other open cases.
Laura Ann Aime Remembered as “Beautiful, Outgoing Free Spirit”
Aime’s sister Michelle Impala—who was just 12 years old when her sister was killed—also spoke about the family’s gratitude that her case can finally be closed, calling it “really incredible.”
She added, “I’m sure that my mom and dad would be really happy to know that it is closed.”
For years, Impala shared a room with her sister, who she said had been passionate about animals and had a fun-loving spirit.
She often fed her beloved horse at the family’s Fairview, Utah farm red licorice nibs as a special treat, but after her death, Impala said the horse would never eat them again.
“Laura is remembered by her family and friends to be a tall, beautiful, outgoing free spirit who enjoyed outdoor activities and shared a passion for riding horses, hunting, and caring for her several siblings,” the sheriff’s office added in their statement. “Her family said that Laura was one who found joy in everything she did, making the most of her time with her family.”
Bundy was first arrested in 1975 after police pulled him over during a traffic stop and discovered a ski mask, rope and handcuffs in his vehicle. He was later convicted for the kidnapping attempt of Carol DeRonch—who was able to flee Bundy’s grasp—however, Bundy was able to escape from custody twice.
During his final escape, Bundy headed to Florida where he attacked members of the Chi Omega sorority house and killed a 12-year-old girl. He was arrested a final time in February of 1978 and was later sentenced to die. Bundy was executed by the electric chair in 1989.