The unsettling last words of Ted Bundy were disclosed 37 years after his execution.
Throughout the 1970s, Bundy was responsible for the abduction, sexual assault, and murder of numerous young women. He evaded law enforcement until 1975 when a police stop for reckless driving led to the discovery of suspicious items in his vehicle, including a ski mask, ice pick, and handcuffs.
Bundy confessed to murdering up to 30 women, though authorities suspect his victim count could be higher.
In 1979, Bundy was found guilty of killing Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy, receiving two death sentences. He later received a third death sentence for the murder of Kimberly Leach, culminating in his execution by electric chair in 1989.
The serial killer was married to Carole Ann Boone for six years, from 1980 to 1986, who bore him a daughter, Rose.
Boone ended the marriage three years before his execution, but Bundy still acknowledged her and his family in his eerie last words.
While strapped to the electric chair, Bundy expressed: “I’d like you to give my love to my family and friends.”
During his time on death row, Bundy corresponded with his cousin Edna Martin, who later shared insights into their communication.
Now 74, Edna recounted to PEOPLE magazine, “He was pretty patronizing. He said, ‘you don’t know me anymore and you need to get to know yourself first before you can know me.’ He implied that I didn’t know all the facts.
“One of the quotes that he wrote to me was, ‘I have no guilt, remorse, or regrets over anything I’ve done.'”
Although Bundy was a notorious murderer, Edna sensed duality in his character.
“Ted was two people. He was one person to his family and friends, and obviously he was something altogether terrifyingly different to his victims,” she added.
“I don’t think he felt like he ever wanted to take that mask off with me.”
In their correspondence, Bundy avoided discussing the murders he was convicted for.
However, Edna did confront him, asking: “I said, ‘why would you develop such a deep rage and hatred that you would feel so overwhelmed that you would have to kill ruthlessly?’
“His response was ‘I won’t disregard your accusations completely … I will say this much, I have not killed anyone.’ And then he goes, and he quotes a Bible verse to me.”