Ted Bundy

Childhood

Ted Bundy was born Theodore Robert Cowell on November 24, 1946 to Eleanor Louise Cowell at the Elizabeth Lund home for unwed mothers in Burlington, Vermont. His father's identity was never determined although, many family members believe it was Eleanor's own father, who was known to be abusive. No material evidence was found to confirm or deny those claims. 

For the first three years of his life, Bundy lived with his paternal grandparents Samuel and Eleanor Cowell, to avoid the social stigma that accompanied birth outside of wedlock at the time. Ted occasionally exhibited disturbing behavior, even at an early age. Ted's aunt Julia recalls awakening from a nap surrounded by kitchen knives with, then three year old, Ted standing by the bad, smiling. 

In 1950, Louise changed her surname to Nelson and moved to Tacoma, Washington. A year later, she met Johnny Bundy, a hospital cook, at an adult singles night at Tacoma's first methodist church. They married later that year and Johnny formally adopted Ted, making him Ted Bundy. Johnny and Louise conceived 4 additional children together. 

Snow skiing was Bundy's only significant avocation, he usually pursued this by using stolen equipment and forged lift tickets. During high school, Bundy was arrested twice on suspicion of burglary and auto theft, the incidents were expunged when he turned 18.