How was Ted Bundy’s wife able to stay married to a serial killer?
Ted Bundy is known for being an evil and highly charismatic man. A serial killer who murdered and raped at least thirty women, his life story is the subject of many Netflix documentaries and films. From The Ted Bundy Files to Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, Bundy’s personal life is a hot topic now, specifically Ted Bundy’s wife.
Ted Bundy’s wife, Carol Anne Boone, is an unknown figure in Bundy’s history. Mainly, we’re shocked to believe that anyone would willingly marry someone who raped and killed women. Yet, Boone broke her silence to explain why she fell in love and married him, as did Bundy’s ex-fiancee Elizabeth “Liz” Kendall. Here’s what we know.
Carol met Ted Bundy when he started killing
Ted Bundy’s wife started dating him during his extradition to Colorado. Carol Anne Boone met Bundy in Olympia, Washington as described in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile. It’s an easter egg that’s briefly nestled in the biopic, but it’s true. They met in Washington in 1974 at work. Bundy already began his killing sprees.
Carol Anne Boone didn’t want to become Ted Bundy’s wife at first. She decided to keep their relationship professional although Bundy was interested in her. Since Bundy was allegedly motivated by women rejecting him, we’re a little surprised Boone didn’t become one of his victims.
When it became romantic
Ted Bundy and Carol Anne Boone became close during his first trial in Utah in 1975. They exchanged letters during the trial, growing romantically closer. Boone helped Bundy escape during his second trial by forwarding him cash during his extradition to Colorado. Becoming Ted Bundy’s wife was a real possibility for Boone this time.
Bundy’s proposal
Ted Bundy proposed to Carol Anne Boone during his third trial in Florida. He asked for Boone’s hand in marriage in court during his trial for killing two sorority girls. Boone accepted in the courtroom and became Ted Bundy’s wife while he was on death row.
Why she loved him
Bundy maintained his innocence to Carol Anne Boone through his trials and their marriage. Despite the overwhelming evidence he was guilty, enough to earn him two death sentences in Florida, Boone decided to remain Ted Bundy’s wife. Boone bribed guards for conjugal visits and they had a daughter together, Rose.
Ted Bundy and sociopaths like him are highly charismatic and great at manipulating their victims. Like his ex-fiancee Liz Kendall, Ted Bundy’s wife was a single mother with emotional trauma. Bundy would have found Boone easy to exploit.
Divorce and a quiet life
Boone divorced Ted Bundy when he revealed that he was guilty of his crimes. Before that, he played his innocence so much to her that she believed him. No longer Ted Bundy’s wife, Boone stayed out of the public eye with her son from a previous marriage.
In the book The Only Living Thing: the True Story of Serial Sex Killer Ted Bundy, authors interviewed Ted Bundy’s wife about what attracted him to her in the first place. She recalled he seemed gentler and shyer than the men at her work.
Similarities between Ted Bundy’s wife and ex-fiancee
Ted Bundy’s wife and ex-fiancee Liz Kendall had many key traits in common. They were both single mothers at the time Bundy met them and just went through divorces. Both of them were in vulnerable positions in their lives which was easy for Bundy to exploit. They also looked similar and were both described as quiet, intelligent, and articulate.
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Ted Bundy isn’t someone we would describe as a good human being. He killed, raped, and tortured women, defiling their bodies for days after. Ted Bundy’s wife’s decision to stand by him was a result of Bundy’s ability to be highly manipulative and his penchant for finding vulnerable women to exploit.
The story of Ted Bundy’s wife really shouldn’t be an indictment against her nor should we victim-blame other women who fell for his charms. His charisma is why viewers flock to his story. He also used it to bait women who met terrible ends, which shouldn’t be glorified or celebrated.
