The infamous Ted Bundy once said, “Society wants to believe it can identify evil people, or bad or harmful people, but it’s not practical. There are no stereotypes” (Bundy). Despite Bundy’s beliefs, professionals had hope that they could get inside his head and their hope is what ultimately led to justice. The 1970s was the decade of criminals and the time period when Bundy was front and center of the reign of terror. Bundy struck fear into everyone everywhere and with a jaw-dropping 30 victims and counting it was no surprise that he had a hand in the most widespread reign of terror ever seen at that time. His case introduced new advancements in psychology as well as impacting society in a previously unseen way. Theodore Robert Cowell was
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The question is: what, of course, and how and, maybe even most importantly, why?” (Bundy). Ted Bundy was just another name on the possible suspects list and only because his name was Ted. He was respectful, handsome, successful, well-liked, and put together. Surely a man like him could never commit such atrocious crimes. It was not until 1978 that Ted’s monstrous side caught the eye of investigators. Bundy escaped police custody twice after 18 year-old Carol DaRonch identified him as her potential kidnapper in a lineup. On July 31, 1978 Bundy’s reign of terror finally came to an end when he was indicted for the murder of 12 year-old Kimberly Leach (Murderpedia). In the months following his arrest and conviction he participated in a number of interviews conducted by reporters, investigators, and psychologists who all had the same question in their mind: why? In interviews Bundy expresses remorse while flashing a bright smile and revealing a gleam of happiness in his eyes. Bundy charmed all who stood within 20 feet of him even though they all knew who he was and what he was capable of. Robert Ressler described Bundy as intelligent, charming, and very deceitful. While he had some qualities of the stereotypical serial murderer, he mostly differed from the preset expectations of a lowlife who would willingly take the life of another human being
The question is: what, of course, and how and, maybe even most importantly, why?” (Bundy). Ted Bundy was just another name on the possible suspects list and only because his name was Ted. He was respectful, handsome, successful, well-liked, and put together. Surely a man like him could never commit such atrocious crimes. It was not until 1978 that Ted’s monstrous side caught the eye of investigators. Bundy escaped police custody twice after 18 year-old Carol DaRonch identified him as her potential kidnapper in a lineup. On July 31, 1978 Bundy’s reign of terror finally came to an end when he was indicted for the murder of 12 year-old Kimberly Leach (Murderpedia). In the months following his arrest and conviction he participated in a number of interviews conducted by reporters, investigators, and psychologists who all had the same question in their mind: why? In interviews Bundy expresses remorse while flashing a bright smile and revealing a gleam of happiness in his eyes. Bundy charmed all who stood within 20 feet of him even though they all knew who he was and what he was capable of. Robert Ressler described Bundy as intelligent, charming, and very deceitful. While he had some qualities of the stereotypical serial murderer, he mostly differed from the preset expectations of a lowlife who would willingly take the life of another human being