In the summer of 1974, Seattle was gripped by fear as young women disappeared and witnesses began describing a polite man named “Ted” and his tan Volkswagen. As newspapers cautiously reported on a possible suspect, few believed the man they were describing could be dangerous.

He looked like a law student.

A volunteer.

Someone people trusted.

In this Once Upon a Crime minisode, we examine Ted Bundy before his trials—through the people who knew him best and the warning signs that surfaced long before his name became infamous.

About This Series:

Ted Bundy for the Defense examines Ted Bundy’s criminal cases through the lens of his courtroom behavior and his insistence on controlling his own fate. This series separates myth from fact, focusing on documented evidence, trial records, and survivor testimony.

Next up in Part Three:

The Chi Omega sorority house attacks, the assault on Cheryl Thomas, and the final unraveling of Ted Bundy’s carefully constructed persona.

Sources:

The Bundy Murders: A Comprehensive History, Kevin M. Sullivan, McFarland and Company, 2020 (Second Edition).

Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers, Caroline Fraser, Penguin Press, 2025.

The Devil’s Defender, John Henry Browne, Chicago Review Press, 2016.

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Events & Appearances:

Meet Esther and Lorena in person at:

Beyond the Crime Convention – Albuquerque, NM | April 11–12 - beyondcrimeconvention.com - Use our discount code BEYOND-OUAC.
CrimeCon – Las Vegas, NV | May 29–31 - crimecon.com - Use our discount code ONCE.

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The Other Ted Bundy: Suspicion, Denial, and the Warnings That Came Too Early