New DNA technology has successfully linked serial killer Ted Bundy to the 1974 murder of 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith in Utah, a development criminologists believe could help solve other long-unresolved cold cases.
The breakthrough utilized Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat (Y-STR) profiling, a method that analyzes DNA inherited from a father and passed down through generations. This advanced testing allowed investigators to match DNA found on Smith's body to Bundy's known profile.
This case follows a similar DNA linkage of Bundy to the murder of 17-year-old Laura Ann Aime, who was killed just weeks after Smith in the same year. Dr. Angelo Brown, an assistant professor of criminology at Arkansas State University, explained that Y-STR profiling is particularly effective for isolating male DNA from mixed biological samples, even those that are degraded or nearly 50 years old.
"Since Y-STR profiling targets the male Y chromosome, it can be very effective at isolating a male suspect's DNA from mixed biological samples, even 50 years ago or, theoretically, up to hundreds or thousands of years ago, if they have samples to match," Brown stated.
Authorities confirmed Bundy's involvement in Smith's death. Smith, the daughter of a former Midvale Police Chief, disappeared on October 18, 1974, after leaving a friend's. Her body was discovered nine days later by a hunter.
Bundy, who was already serving time in Utah for kidnapping in November 1974 and was a suspect in other murders, was later convicted of killing two Florida State University sorority sisters and a 12-year-old girl in Florida. He died in 1989, having confessed to at least 30 murders across multiple states, though not all confessions have been verified and some victims' remains have never been found.
While the technology offers a path to closure for victims' families and can identify perpetrators in historical cases, Brown cautioned about its limitations for criminal prosecution. "For most cold cases from 50 years ago, it likely won't be implemented to actually try and convict someone since the perpetrator is likely not alive anymore," he said. He added that the cost and resources required for such investigations are substantial.
Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera highlighted the significance of preserving evidence and leveraging scientific advancements, even decades later. "This case demonstrates the importance of preserving evidence," Rivera said. "We have to solve these cases to the best of our ability... Here in the state of Utah, we take it very seriously."