DNA Links Ted Bundy to a 1974 Utah Cold Case: How the Tech Works

In October 2026 Utah investigators closed a 52-year-old case using DNA technology that didn't exist a few years ago. Here is what was announced and how the science made it possible.

1. The case

Melissa Ann Smith, 17, of Midvale, Utah, went missing on October 18, 1974. On October 27, 2026, Summit County officials announced that DNA evidence links her death to Ted Bundy.

2. The technology

Since 2023 Utah's crime lab has used newer genotyping that can build full DNA profiles from old, degraded or mixed samples that older tests couldn't read.

3. The match

Investigators compared evidence from Smith's case with the case of Laura Ann Aime, another 1974 victim linked to Bundy in April 2026, found a match in July, and compared it with Bundy's full profile.

4. The lesson

Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera said the case shows the importance of preserving evidence. Samples stored for decades can be retested as the science improves.

5. Still open

Investigators are still looking at other cases, including Nancy Wilcox, 16, of Salt Lake County.

Sources

Salt Lake Tribune, CBS News, NBC News and US News/AP, October 27-28, 2026.

FAQ

Is this the first Utah case closed this way?

It's the second in 2026, after the Laura Ann Aime case in April.

Why can old DNA be tested now?

Newer genotyping can read small, degraded or mixed samples and build a full profile to compare.