The 1974 cold case murder of 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith has officially been solved, according to an October 27 report. Serial killer Ted Bundy has been tied to the scene through paternal DNA, officials announced during a Summit County Sheriff news conference.
The body of Smith was found by hunters 52 years ago today in rural Summit County. The resolution came after Summit County officials contacted the Utah County Sheriff’s Office to request a paternal DNA profile that the department had created in a previous case. A paternal DNA profile, which can link a sample to a family rather than an individual, was created from Summit County evidence and matched the Utah County profile determined to be from Bundy.
The investigation involved collaboration between the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Utah County Sheriff’s Office, and Summit County Sheriff’s Office. The Utah State Crime Lab conducted the necessary tests at the request of the Summit County Attorney’s Office. Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera stated that Smith’s surviving family members have been informed that the case is now solved and closed.
Bundy was executed in Florida in 1989 at age 42 after being convicted of a murder there. While he reportedly confessed to 36 murders, law enforcement officials have confirmed at least 21. Bundy was previously linked to the cold case murder of Laura Ann Aime of Lehi in April of this year using similar paternal DNA testing.
Law enforcement officials continue to investigate other cases potentially linked to Bundy. Sheriff Rivera noted that her office will continue to work on the cold case murder of 16-year-old Nancy Wilcox, which occurred on Oct. 1, 1974, and has long been attributed to Bundy.
