Serial killer Ted Bundy murdered at least thirty women and young girls in the 1970s. Despite the fact he is one of the most sinister serial killers ever to have lived – women still flocked to the courtroom during his trial to admire him from across the room.
Even following the trial, after evidence was heard how he took his victims to secluded areas where they were killed; fans of Bundy still proclaimed his innocence.
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Ted Bundy would hunt strategically and stalk specific victims. After learning from previous failed attempts, he was always perfecting his approach to his victims.
Following the murder of 21-year-old psychology student Linda Ann Healy on February 1st, 1974; Bundy began killing approximately one girl a month. Police started a ‘girl of the month club’ – documenting girls who had gone missing and were later found dead.
So why did so many women fall for the serial killer? Based on the research of Professor of forensic psychology Katherine Ramsland, we believe it comes down to these 5 factors…
5. They believe they can change a man as cruel and powerful as a serial killer
When the media interviewed Bundy’s fangirls outside the courtroom, one woman told them, “He just doesn’t look like the type to kill somebody.”
Bundy is a serial killer who was born without a capacity for empathy. So from a young age, he has learned in order to blend in, that he needed to practice superficial charm. We see this show up time after time again in the psychopathic personality and Bundy was a pro. He landed top University places even though his grades were abysmal and he worked his way up the political ladder.
Bundy himself said: “I became an expert at projecting something very different. It is clear now, I think, that a huge part of my life was hidden from everyone – secret, as it were. It didn’t take much effort at all.”
When the women who claim to be in love with Bundy say they can “change him”; they are only really seeing the superficial side of his personality. They fail to see the dark side that cannot be changed as Ted Bundy is a born predator.
4. They see the little boy that the killer once was and seek to nurture him
Once you are in a relationship with a psychopath, they will use many techniques to secure your unwavering loyalty. One of these techniques is playing the role of the “victim” as it taps into their partner’s ‘nurturing instincts.’
This unfortunately was the case for Elizabeth Kendall. She was a single mother juggling work and her young daughter, Molly, when she first met Bundy.
Elizabeth recalls how the serial killer would cry into his hands because he never met his real father. Yet these are believed to be fake tears as she later discovered he was a man capable of killing women in the day and then taking her out for dinner at night.
Every female pen friend Bundy had behind bars, he would pull this same little lost boy routine on as well. Bundy claimed he was innocent and the police were just out to make him look like a monster. This routine worked time after time again.
3. They hope to share in the media spotlight or get a book or movie deal
In 1979, Bundy’s month-long trial was one of the first to be televised in the world. The media coverage turned the serial killer into a household name overnight.
His then-girlfriend and future wife Carol Ann Boone attended the trial. Through an odd legal loophole, Bundy “married” Carol in court because he declared they were husband and wife in front of a judge.
His former colleague Ann Rule whom he met whilst working for a suicide helpline went on to write “The Stranger Beside Me” about his crimes. When Ann passed away in July 2015 she was worth an estimated $10 million.
So, you can understand why some women would be attracted to serial killers if they themselves desire to be rich and famous.
2. They believe they are dating “the perfect boyfriend”
Some women do genuinely believe serial killers on death row make the perfect boyfriends; they know where they are at all times; they can’t commit adultery as they are locked up, and they are more than willing to write back and talk daily on the phone.
One obsessive Bundy stalker named Janet went so far with her love of Ted Bundy that she even managed to creep out the serial killer himself.
Janet not only wrote tons of letters to Bundy but she also showed up to the trials. Bundy was so worried about Janet he turned to his defense attorneys and told them that he believed she wanted to wear his skin.
Bundy said, “There she sits contemplating me with her mad eyes like a deranged seagull studying a clam. I can feel her spreading hot sauce on me already.”
Bundy had written Janet back the once and she told him: “I kissed the letter all over and held it to me. I don’t mind telling you I am crying. I just don’t see how I can stand it anymore. I love you so very much, Ted.”
So just to be clear, if you are fascinated with the Ted Bundy case and read lots of books about the serial killers – don’t worry too much, we’re talking about Janet levels of crazy here.
They seek relationships that cannot traditionally be consummated
Many women who date serial killers have been victims of abuse at the hands of a former partner themselves. So for some of these women, they find knowing that they can’t have a romantic relationship with their partner due to the restrictions on conjugal visits for death row inmates – quite comforting.
1. They can have an emotional connection without a physical connection
Bundy is a highly manipulative individual; he managed to exploit the prison system and conceive a daughter with Carol Ann Boone whilst he was on death row.
Nobody really knows for certain exactly how this happened. Some guess he bribed a guard to look the other way if he had some private time with his wife whereas others believe Carol took some of his sperm during a visit and later inseminated herself.
However, they managed it – Ted Bundy does have a daughter named Rose who would now be in her late 30s.
Carol Ann Boone always believed Bundy was innocent until later DNA evidence and his full confession the night before his execution proved otherwise.
After Bundy’s execution, Carol avoided the media and it’s believed she passed away in 2018 at the age of 70 years old.
Elizabeth and her daughter Molly retold their story of life with Bundy when they released an updated version of the book “The Phantom Prince” in 2020.
