Ted Bundy survivors testify at his 1979 murder trial | "48 Hours" archives | Forensic Files

Kathy would soon need that Newfound confidence the survivors were set to testify against Bundy but this time his
life was in their hands to know I was going to have to testify um I think I just needed to
build up my resolve and know that this was going to happen and be prepared as much as I could for it we locked eyes
once again and I stared at him I think I always knew that I was going to have to testify in
court if it went to [Music] trial CER going on the fourth floor get away from here you know you're not
supposed to be here excuse me there was a total media circus we'll be standing by prosecuting
attorney l defy and it was the first major case that actually was broadcast live evaluating it as it was actually
going down in the courtroom only one camera fixed on a tripod tapes the courtroom proceedings his 20 television
Crews from around the country have been covering the trial get a front row seat you can get
it all there I think Mr Bunny was playing to the cameras Robert my name is T he got a real kick out of it
at trial Bundy again took an active role on his defense team Z it's on this motion by participating in
his own defense Bundy and his attorneys hoped to convince the jury that he was intelligent articulate and innocent a
victim of circumstances Bundy had a lot of interaction with the judge he argued his own motions as good as a lawyer
could I think a defendant young women packed the courtroom every day to to see the star
defendant every time he turns around I kind of get that feeling no no you know he's going to get me
next as lead prosecutor Larry Simpson felt pressure at or near the cause of death to make sure Bundy was put away
forever the cases out west were not particularly strong cases we know we needed to finish the
job in Florida the survivors felt that pressure too as Cheryl Karen and Kathy each took
the stand I felt it was important for the jury to see a real person who had been
subjected to what Ted Bundy did I had um five skull fractures and multiple contusions in my
head it was just my mission to tell my story and I just really didn't want to look at him didn't want to talk to him
didn't want anything to do with him the defense asked is this the man you saw attack you that night in your room
at Kai Omega and I had to say I don't know because I never saw his face I wanted to help put the nail in
that coffin to put him away to help the other girls who couldn't do it I couldn't help and she was weaving in
though the survivors couldn't ident ify Bundy from that night someone else could sorority sister
Nita nearer do you recall the man that you saw at the door of Kyle Mega house on
the morning of January 15 1978 yes I do would you point him out for us please man in the dark suit with the red
TI perhaps the prosecution most damning evidence was that bite mark left on one of the victims this is a photograph of
the bite mark and as you can see there's a ruler in place and this is what the forensic dentist did in court they made
the marks you can actually place this model right on the photograph and you've got it coming in like this laying down
and then he turned his head slightly and did it again it fits like a glove but bitemark
analysis was a new and relatively uncertain science and the ever smiling Bundy seemed confident as the trial came
to a close of course I was worried when it went to the jury but I knew in my heart
and by the evidence that was there that he's the one that actually murdered my friends
the jury was out a little less than 7 hours and returned to Verdi agre the jury I'm the defendant guilty is charged
the verdict that was guilty as charged on all counts he was convicted and now whatever
sentence he got couldn't be bad enough as far as I was concerned it is ironic that he ended up in Florida because we
were a very active death penalty state is hereby imposed the death penalty he was sentenced to death on my
birthday I don't believe the death penalty should be a willy-nilly kind of thing but if he had gotten out there
were women that were going to die I have no doubt in my mind following the FSU trial Bundy was
also found guilty of murdering 12-year-old Kimberly leech and received another death sentence after the trial
was over I felt that it was just going to be all over and no more in the news or or anything but that didn't happen it
was probably just crazy for me to think [Music] that as Bundy sat on death row his
notoriety only grew books and TV programs came out focusing on his good looks and
charm instead of rejecting it Kathy decided to embrace it I read as much as I could about Ted Bundy watched all his
movies because I think by learning about him it has helped me move forward because I wanted to just disassociate
myself so that he wasn't part of me anymore in 1981 3 years after the attacks Cathy had a son Michael I didn't
want him to know that I had been scared that I had been attacked I just wanted to be a normal mom with a normal
kid one night I was putting him to bed and he looked up at me and he touched my face and he said Mommy what happened to
your face right there and I told him that a bad man came into my house one night and had hurt me
you just don't grasp it at a young age you don't really get it but you kind of do and it you just feel like you know
I'm not going to let anybody hurt [Music] you I felt that it was important to keep
her safe she was such a loving person How could somebody do that too sorry and I think in his mind he he
always carried that that it could happen again and would I be there you know to help my
[Music] mom

In July 1979, three survivors — Kathy Kleiner, Karen Chandler and Cheryl Thomas — took the witness stand at Ted Bundy's murder trial. The women, who were attacked in January 1978 on the Florida State University campus, were gravely injured but miraculously survived. We shared their incredible stories of strength and survival in "Surviving Ted Bundy." Here's a look.

Crime. Social justice. Impact. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives.

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Brief Summary

Survivors testify against Ted Bundy, leading to his conviction and death sentence, while they cope with their trauma.

Key points

Bundy's Trial Coverage. The trial was broadcast live, drawing massive media attention.
Kathy's Testimony. Kathy prepares to testify against Bundy, determined to share her story.
Guilty Verdict. The jury finds Bundy guilty on all counts, leading to his death sentence.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

It was just my mission to tell my story.

Kathy's resolve to share her experience in court.

2:53WatchFeb 22, 2024

Tension

75/ 100High tension

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