More than fifty years after hunters discovered the body of 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith in Utah, officials announced on October 27, 2026, that DNA evidence links notorious serial killer Ted Bundy to her 1974 murder.
Ted Bundy Tied to 1974 Murder
On July 14, the Utah State Crime Lab concluded that a DNA profile recovered from 17-year-old Laura Ann Aime matched genetic material found on Smith’s body, according to Summit County Attorney Margaret Olson.
Forensic experts examined Y-STR DNA. This traces down the paternal line.
Olson noted that this genetic link, when considered alongside evidence related to pattern, motive, means, and opportunity, established Bundy’s responsibility for the crime. Authorities formally presented these findings to the county attorney’s office on October 7.
Melissa Ann Smith Vanished in Midvale
Melissa Ann Smith vanished without a trace from the city of Midvale, Utah, on October 18, 1974.
Nine days later, on October 27—the exact date of the 2026 announcement—hunters found her body in a wooded area near Summit Park.
New DNA evidence has linked serial killer Ted Bundy to the 1974 murder of 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith in Utah, authorities announced Tuesday. Smith disappeared after leaving a pizza restaurant and was found dead days later, but the case remained unsolved for more than 50 years.… pic.twitter.com/vqwiGEhCCk
Investigators suspected Bundy at the time, but definitive proof remained out of reach, and Bundy never confessed to the crime. Law enforcement agencies preserved the original physical evidence through decades of changing technology, a decision Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera called vital to closing the file.
A Summit County detective initiated contact with the Salt Lake agency in June 2025. This enabled a Salt Lake detective to locate baseline investigative reports that helped unify the separate investigations.
Officials Detail the Cold Case Breakthrough
Although Ted Bundy is no longer alive to face prosecution, advances in forensic science and the continued dedication of law enforcement professionals have helped provide answers in a case that has remained unsolved for over 50 years, Olson said.
Officials emphasized the role of persistence during an October 27 news conference.
This case shows how important it is to preserve evidence, even when decades have passed, Sheriff Rosie Rivera stated at a news conference, adding, The Ted Bundy chapter is not closed yet.
With every closed case, the memory of the perpetrator can be further erased, noted Sergeant Mike Reynolds of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
Bundy Confessed to Thirty Murders
Bundy admitted to approximately 30 murders committed across at least seven states—including California, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Florida—during the 1970s.
After escaping custody twice in 1977, he was ultimately convicted of three murders in Florida and executed by the electric chair in Florida in 1989 at the age of 42.
The Ted Bundy chapter is not closed yet.