TRIGGER WARNING
In 1978, a man who had been in police custody escaped for the second time to Florida, Tallahassee, where he invaded Florida State University and killed two students, as well as leaving two injured.
Many people know of Ted Bundy, who killed over 36 people (the exact number of his killings are not proven). He grew up particularly shy, and was at the focus of bullying. Despite this, he grew and became more advanced in his communication skills, allowing for him to be more persuasive and “likable” before he was known as the murderer he was and is today.
He confessed to 30 murders, although many believe he killed over 100.
The media gruesomely began to romanticize Bundy after his escape, describing him as “charmful”. He was sentenced to death for the killing of two college students, as well as a third death sentence for crimes against 12-year-old Kimberly Leach. (“Ted Bundy”, Jenkins, 2026).
But did you know, Ted Bundy began his early killings right here in Washington State?
Just an hour, maybe more, away from Tumwater, resides Seattle. And in Seattle resides the University of Washington, where Bundy’s first known victim was killed. Lynda Ann Healy was taken from her home, where someone “neatly made her bed, which the 21-year-old never did” (“Remembering Washington Victims of Ted Bundy”, Cornwell, 2019).
The story of her disappearance wasn’t well-known, and became buried in newspapers. Despite this initial reaction, she and her killer made the front page later on (“Remembering Washington Victims of Ted Bundy”, Cornwell, 2019).
Lynda was born in 1952, and she attended UW. She was a psychology major, with passion and a spark for music. In her free time, she announced what was going on in the mountains for fellow skiers.
Detective Kathleen McChesney stated, “That was very unusual because she was a person you relied on five days a week to tell you what was going on in the mountains.” (“Conversations With A Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes”)
People were concerned when Lynda was nowhere to be found, and even more confused to find no foul play suggested; her room was spotless, and her bed completely made. Despite this, her nightgown was found in her closet, with stains that did suggest foul play.
Healy wasn’t found until 1975, along with others (“Who Was Lynda Ann Healy, Ted Bundy’s First Known Victim”, Sederstrom, 2019).
Ted Bundy then went off into other states in the US, captured finally four years later. Lynn Ann Healy wasn’t the only victim in Washington State. Karen Sparks came out in 2020, breaking her silence as being the first known victim. She was a dancer at UW.
We should always show remembrance and respect for the victims who were ripped away away from their loved ones and families.
Rest easy to those whose lives were taken.
Jenkins, John Philip. “Ted Bundy”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Jan. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ted-Bundy. Accessed 11 March 2026.
Sederstrom, Jill. “Remembering the Washington Victims of Ted Bundy The Serial Killer Spotlighted in New Movie and Netflix Docuseries”. Seattle Times, 1 Feb. 2019
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/remembering-the-washington-victims-of-ted-bundy-the-serial-killer-spotlighted-in-new-movie-and-netflix-docuseries. Accessed 12 March 2026.
