DNA Evidence Confirms Ted Bundy's Involvement in 1974 Murder of Melissa Smith

Summit County Sheriff's Office officials confirmed on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, that DNA evidence links Ted Bundy to the 1974 murder of Melissa Ann Smith. The announcement resolved a homicide case that had remained unsolved for more than 50 years.

Smith, a 17-year-old resident of Midvale, was last seen at a restaurant in Murray on the evening of October 18, 1974. Investigators discovered her nude body nine days later. Midvale is located 13 miles south of Salt Lake City and currently has a population of approximately 36,000.

Bundy, who was executed in the electric chair on January 4, 1989, confessed to killing more than 30 women during a four-year killing spree that began in 1974. His crimes spanned multiple states, including Utah, Idaho, Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and Florida. Investigators noted that Bundy frequently traveled between his childhood home in Tacoma, Washington, and the Salt Lake City area.

The DNA match provided definitive evidence in a case that previously relied on circumstantial links. Authorities stated that the case closure offers resolution to Smith's family and loved ones. Smith is buried in Midvale Cemetery in Salt Lake City.

Police believe additional victims may exist in the Salt Lake City area, with bodies that have never been recovered. The Sheriff's Office concluded its press conference following the public release of the DNA results.