Via Denver Post
History has had its fair share of famous serial killers, mostly Americans, who horrified the world with their gruesomeness and cruelty towards their victims. TV shows and movies have tried to match reality with their own versions of serial killer stories, such as Hannibal and Dexter, with characters who are alarmingly charming yet undeniably blood-thirsty. Today, we’re going to tell you about one of the most controversial serial killers in history, a man who apparently ‘charmed’ the world while on trial—Ted Bundy!
*Warning: this article contains descriptions of Ted Bundy’s crimes.*
Who exactly is Ted Bundy?
Born Theodore Robert Bundy (and going by several aliases), Ted Bundy was an American who has been characterised as having been extremely bright, charismatic, and handsome in the 1970s. However, that’s not why everyone knows about him today. Instead, everyone knows him as a convicted murderer-kidnapper who targeted and killed over 36 women across America. He would typically approach his victims in public places, either faking an injury or impersonating an authority figure. Then he would bludgeon them into unconsciousness and take them to other locations to rape and strangle them to death.
Via The New Yorker
Why was he different from other killers?
The puzzling thing about Bundy is not his violent crimes toward women, but the fact that he used his charms to fool an entire nation into thinking that he was innocent. After his arrest, Bundy claimed his innocence for over a decade, repeating his claim in law enforcement interrogations and the court of law. He even represented himself during some of his many televised trials. He was reported to have deliberately sabotaged his defence out of delusions of grandeur that he could do the lawyer’s job better. Yes, what you just read is correct. Bundy believed in his charms so much that he thought he could use them to get away with murder!
Via Fine Art America
How far did his “fans” go?
Ironically, Bundy’s charms generated a cult of female fans, who believed in his innocence and even wrote fan letters as he orchestrated his prison escape twice. However, in the eyes of the law and despite his best attempts at finding loopholes, Bundy was fortunately deemed guilty. Shortly before his execution, he finally confessed to 20 more murders.
During one of his trials, Bundy took advantage of an obscure Florida law providing that a marriage declaration in court, in the presence of a judge, constituted a legal marriage. As the killer was questioning Carole Boone—who had moved to Florida to be near him—who testified on his behalf during both trials as a character witness, he asked her to marry him. She accepted, and Bundy declared to the court that they were legally married, and later gave birth to his daughter, Rose.
Via Sick Chirpse
How did Netflix adopt this story?
Hollywood was eager to capture the life of Ted Bundy, considering his unusual story. Available on Netflix, “The Ted Bundy Tapes” is a docuseries that depicts the story of Bundy, as told by him and other parties. Additionally, the handsome star Zac Efron was cast to play the charismatic psychopath in “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile”, which you can also catch on Netflix. But, no matter what you do, do not be among those who fall for the charms and psychological tricks of the likes of Ted Bundy.
