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DNA match links Melissa Ann Smith to Ted Bundy, raising count to 32

By Drooid · Oct 28, 2026, 14:19 UTC · How we work

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Summary

Summit County Attorney Margaret Olson announced that Ted Bundy killed 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith in Utah.
DNA from Smith’s autopsy matched the profile obtained from Bundy’s victim Laura Ann Aime via Y-STR analysis.
Summit County Sheriff Casey Bates said DNA, pattern, motive, means and opportunity fit Bundy.
The confirmation raises Bundy’s verified victim count to 32, exceeding his earlier confession of 30.

Summary

Utah officials closed the Melissa Ann Smith cold case in 2026, linking the victim to Ted Bundy.
Utah’s crime lab adopted new genotyping technology in 2023, producing full DNA profiles from degraded samples.
The closure gave Melissa’s family long-awaited answers after decades of uncertainty.
Utah officials said Nancy Wilcox, Susan Curtis and Deborah Smith cases may also involve Bundy.

Summary

Lt. Alan Siddoway was honored posthumously for his pivotal work on the Smith case.
The press conference marked the 52nd anniversary of the hunter’s discovery of Smith’s remains.
Summit County Sheriff Kacey Bates praised collaboration among three sheriff’s offices and the state crime lab.
Detective Ben Pender noted the Smith closure does not end the search for Nancy Wilcox.

History

In 1984 British geneticist Sir Alec Jeffreys at the University of Leicester devised DNA profiling, and the technique was first applied in Leicestershire when 5,000 local men supplied blood samples that cleared Richard Buckland and led to Colin Pitchfork’s conviction on 2 January 1988. That landmark case proved forensic DNA’s power and spurred worldwide adoption for solving cold murders.

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Historical Context

In 1984 British geneticist Sir Alec Jeffreys at the University of Leicester devised DNA profiling, and the technique was first applied in Leicestershire when 5,000 local men supplied blood samples that cleared Richard Buckland and led to Colin Pitchfork’s conviction on 2 January 1988. That landmark case proved forensic DNA’s power and spurred worldwide adoption for solving cold murders.

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