Laura Ann Aime:1974, American Fork Canyon, Utah
Laura Ann Aime was born in Provo, Utah on August 21st, 1957 to Shirlene Tolton Aime and James J. Aime.
She grew up in Fairview, Utah with one brother and four sisters.
Laura attended North Sanpete High School in 1974 and was looking forward to graduating in the following year.
Laura was staying with various friends in Fairview and Mt. Pleasant that year. She was finishing high school because her family had moved to Salem, Utah. Laura wanted to finish high school with all the classmates she had grown up with. She also wanted to stay near the church she’d attended all her life. Laura was a devoted Latter Day Saints member.
That Fall was strange in Utah. On October 27th, a teen girl’s nude body had been found strangled near Summit Park. She was identified as 18 year old Melissa Smith. She had been viciously raped and strangled. Her murder was unusual for Utah. Things like this didn’t happen here.
On Halloween night, 1974, Laura had gone to a party in Lehi. At some point in the evening, she left the party to go to a convenience store and was never seen alive again.
A couple who were out hiking in American Fork Canyon on Wednesday, November 27th, 1974 stumbled upon a woman’s body. They reported the discovery to a park ranger who called the police.
Investigators first assumed that this was the body of Debra Kent of Bountiful. Debra had been missing for a while too. She was last seen on November 8th, 1974. Debra had been watching a school play at Viewmont High School and left to go pick up her brother who was at a skating rink. Debra was then supposed to come back for her parents. But, she never even made it to pick up her brother at the rink. Her family called the police when they realized she was missing. Searchers would find a handcuff key there in the parking lot of Viewmont High.
Strangely enough that same night, November 8th, 1974, a young woman escaped from a man after he kidnapped her from a mall parking lot. Carol DaRonch escaped from the man and his Volkswagen Beetle. He had told a convincing story at first. He said he was a police detective and someone had tried to break into her car. He needed her to come with him and fill out some forms. She got into the car with him. She began to feel uneasy almost immediately. She asked to be taken back to her car instead. He reacted violently. She fought for her life and managed to escape the car.
Carol DaRonch went to the police and described her attacker who had gotten one handcuff on her and threatened her with a gun and a tire iron. The handcuff key found at Viewmont High, where Debra Kent was abducted, fit the handcuffs that had been used on Carol DaRonch.
The body in American Fork Canyon with tightly knotted nylon hosiery around her neck was not Debra Kent. It was 17 year old Laura Ann Aime. Despite being missing for about a month, it was estimated that she had only been dead for a week. Had Laura been held captive and tortured all that time? Or had the cold of the canyon in October preserved her body?
And where was Debra? How could this be happening in Utah? People wondered if the Zodiac killer was on the loose in Utah.
Searches were conducted and a reward fund for information about Debi Kent grew to 10,000 dollars.
Carol DaRonch was able to pick out her attacker from a lineup. He was a law student living in Salt Lake. He had transferred there from the Seattle area. His name was Theodore Bundy. He had rented a room in Salt Lake City.
Bundy was arrested and was being held prior to his trial. His bail was set at 100,000 dollars. It was later reduced to 15,000. He never made bail though. He was tried and convicted for the kidnapping of Carol DaRonch. But despite the trial and the stories of what Ted was suspected of in Seattle...public opinion was on his side.
Bundy attempted to escape. He gathered materials. He was caught with an escape kit and extra security measures were taken. He escaped once by jumping from a second story courthouse window. Bystanders watched him limp away and had not even realized they had just watched one of the most dangerous men in America escape from jail. He was caught in a few days.
He escaped again later and headed to Florida where he committed even more brutal and violent murders.
Florida would finally end Bundy’s life on January 24th, 1989 for the many murders he committed there. He would confess to more murders before his death. One 1974 victim, Nancy Wilcox, is buried somewhere at Capitol Reef National Park. Another victim, a hitchhiker, was killed in Idaho and dismembered. She is still unidentified.
Just a few weeks ago, in 2026, authorities in Utah announced that they had closed Laura Ann Amie’s cold case. DNA testing had definitively proven Ted Bundy to be her killer. Prosecutors announced that if Bundy was still alive that they would seek the death penalty against him for Laura Ann Aime’s abduction, rape and murder.
Laura Ann Aime had hopes and dreams. She was a good student and a good daughter and sister. She should still be here.
Laura Ann Aime is the most recent confirmed victim of Bundy. But, there are other victims out there still waiting.
Rest In Peace, Laura, Melissa and Debi
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