Thirty-five years on from his execution, the crimes of serial killer Ted Bundy continue to be uncovered.
While Bundy admitted to killing at least 30 people, investigators believe there are many more bodies yet to be found across the United States.
The mysterious murder of Ann Woodward is one Bundy was always linked to. The 46-year-old mother was brutally killed on March 2, 1973, inside the pub she owned in Moab, Utah.
Police deduced Bundy was responsible after he admitted to the multiple murders of women in that area during the mid-1970s. However, they could never prove it.
Former Moab police chief Jeremy Drexler reopened the case in 2006 to find Ann’s killer. And on June 28, 2024, they finally did.
“It was 50 years and six months later, but we got it,” Drexler said.
“I called my wife and told her I had the evidence in the back seat of my truck and I got emotional.”
He rediscovered boxes of evidence from the original crime scene and the DNA samples of over 30 suspects, including that of pub regular Douglas Chudomelka.
Police say new technology has identified Chudomelka as Ann’s killer after his DNA was found on her clothing.
Chudomelka had a history of violence.
Police theorise that he strangled Ann and sexually assaulted her, after she beat him at poker.
“He could explain away having his DNA on the outside of her clothes, but not the inside of her pants. No way,” Drexler said.
Chief Drexler credits the work of his predecessor, Melvin Dalton, who took the samples, despite not having the technology to test it.
“This case hinged on the hair Dalton pulled in 1973,” Drexler said. “I have no idea how he knew that we would be able to do that today.
“He took it from his belly button, his chest, his pubic area, cigarette butts and carefully preserved them. He was a forward-thinking guy.”
While Ann’s family now have some answers. Chudomelka is not able to answer for his crimes.
He died aged 68 in 2002.
“If [he] were alive today, I would be asking … for an arrest warrant for the crime of first-degree murder,” Drexler said.
“I hope [this] brings closure to the family because I truly believe … he would have been found guilty.”
Police have uploaded Chudomelka’s DNA to a national database in the hope of finding other crimes he may have committed.
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