As the world continues to delve into the dark history of one of America’s most infamous serial killers, a family member of Ted Bundy has come forward with chilling insights into his early behavior. Ted Bundy, whose gruesome spree claimed the lives of at least 20 women during the 1970s, was finally sentenced to death in 1989 after a series of arrests and escapes. Despite his heinous actions, he was often perceived as normal and even charming during his youth, according to his cousin, Edna Cowell Martin.
In anticipation of her new book, “Dark Tides: Growing up with Ted Bundy,” Martin shared her unique perspective on Bundy, whom she considered an older brother figure in her childhood. She revealed that Bundy had an early fascination with detective novels, which frequently depicted women in perilous situations. This, she suggests, may have foreshadowed his later crimes, as Bundy himself admitted to reenacting these scenes with his victims.
During a revealing interview, Martin recounted a particularly eerie incident from when she was a teenager. She had hosted a dinner party at her apartment, to which Bundy was invited. At one point, Martin found Bundy slow dancing with her roommate Margie in a backroom, displaying a chilling demeanor that Martin had never seen before. She described his expression as tense and mean, a stark contrast to the cousin she thought she knew. This moment of realization was so profound that it prompted her to intervene, snapping him out of his trance.
.jpg)
Despite these early warning signs, Martin initially believed in Bundy’s innocence when he was first arrested for kidnapping in 1975. Her faith in him was strong, reinforced by his ability to maintain a facade of normalcy around family and friends. It wasn’t until she picked him up from jail in Salt Lake City, where she observed him reveling in the attention of his notoriety, that she began to see through his act.
The emotional toll of recognizing Bundy’s guilt was overwhelming for Martin. In her memoir, she expresses the betrayal and manipulation she felt, describing it as sickening to come to terms with the reality of his crimes. “Dark Tides: Growing up with Ted Bundy,” published by Simon & Schuster, not only explores Bundy’s dual personas but also offers a rare familial perspective on the psychological development of a serial killer.
Martin’s revelations provide a disturbing glimpse into the early indicators of Bundy’s murderous inclinations, underscoring the complexity of his character and the profound impact of his crimes on his family.