Serial Killers and Haunted Places

Ted Bundy

Theodore Robert Bundy was one of the most dangerous serial killers in U.S. history who confessed to kidnapping, raping and murdering 30 women throughout seven states during the 1970s. From the time of his capture, up until his death in the electric chair, he proclaimed his innocence and then began confessing to some of his crimes to delay his execution. The actual count of how many people he murdered remains a mystery.

Ted Bundy was born Theodore Robert Cowell on November 24, 1946, at the Elizabeth Lund Home for Unwed Mothers in Burlington, Vermont. Ted's mother, Eleanor "Louise" Cowell returned to Philadelphia to live with her parents and to raise her new son.

In the 1950s being an unwed mother was scandalous and illegitimate children were often teased and treated as outcasts. To avoid having Ted suffer, Louise's parents, Samuel and Eleanor Cowell, took on the role of being Ted's parents. For several years of his life, Ted thought his grandparents were his parents, and his mother was his sister. He never had any contact with his birth father, whose identity remains unknown.

According to relatives, the environment in the Cowell home was volatile. Samuel Cowell was known for being an outspoken bigot who would go into loud rants about his dislike of various minority and religious groups.

He physically abused his wife and children and brutalized the family dog. He suffered hallucinations and would sometimes talk or argue with people who were not there.

Eleanor was submissive and fearful of her husband. She suffered from agoraphobia and depression. She periodically received electric shock therapy, which was a popular treatment for even the mildest cases of mental illness during that time.

In 1951, Louise packed up and, with Ted in tow, moved to Tacoma, Washington to live with her cousins. For unknown reasons, she changed her surname from Cowell to Nelson. While there, she met and married Johnnie Culpepper Bundy. Bundy was an ex-military cook who was working as a hospital cook.

Johnnie adopted Ted and changed his surname from Cowell to Bundy. Ted was a quiet and well-behaved child although some people found his behavior unsettling. Unlike other children who seem to thrive on parental attention and affection, Bundy preferred isolation and disconnection from family and friends.

As time went on, Louise and Johnnie had four more children, and Ted had to adjust to not being an only child. The Bundy's home was small, cramped, and tense. Money was scarce and Louise was left taking care of the children without any additional help. Because Ted was always quiet, he was often left alone and ignored while his parents dealt with their more demanding children. Any developmental issue, such as Ted's extreme introversion, went unnoticed or was explained as a character based on his shyness.

High School and College Years

Despite the circumstances at home, Bundy grew into an attractive teenager who got along with his peers and who.

He graduated from in 1965. According to Bundy, it was during his high school years that he began breaking into cars and homes. Bundy said the motivation behind becoming a petty thief was partially due to his desire to go downhill skiing. It was the only sport he was good at, but it was expensive. He used the money he made off of stolen goods to help pay for skis and ski passes.

Although his police record was expunged at the age of 18, it is known that Bundy was arrested twice on suspicion of burglary and auto theft.

After high school, Bundy entered the University of Puget Sound. There he scored high academically but failed socially. He continued to suffer from acute shyness which resulted in giving him the appearance of being socially awkward. While he did manage to develop some friendships, he was never comfortable in participating in most of the social activities that others were doing.