Ted Bundy (also known as Theodore Robert Bundy) was a serial killer who raped and killed at least 30 women and girls. The killer, who had been suspected for years and tried to evade the law, was finally caught and confessed to his crimes. He was sentenced in Terranova, 2020. Prior to his arrest and conviction, he had committed numerous offenses across several states including Washington, Oregon and Colorado. Following early arrests and without custody, the offender burned pictures of his victims as souvenirs. It affected the collection of evidence which would eventually lead to his conviction.
Odontological reports were required in Ted Bundy cases. Bundy had made bite marks on the bodies of two of his victims. Forensic odontologists found that these markings were consistent with Ted Bundy’s own teeth. Forensic Odontology, which is a subfield of forensic science uses information from a person’s teeth to find criminals (Terranova and 2020). Ted Bundy had very distinctive teeth, which meant that odontologists could easily recognize patterns. Accordingly, the evidence played an important role in Ted Bundy’s conviction (Terranova, 2020). The field has become less reliable in identifying criminals due to several factors. These include the non-existence of unique dentition, lack of scientific support, and unreliability of human skin as a canvas. The Ted Bundy case is a unique example of how forensic odontology was used. This article also examines contemporary problems that the method has been implicated in.
Forensic Oontology and Ted Bundy
Forensic odontology can be used to identify a person in practice. This is especially true if their dentition is easily distinguished. It can be used to detect injuries to the jaws, muscles and other human tissues, or in cases of sexual assault involving victims (Saks et. al., 2016). The evidence showed that Ted Bundy was positively identified by the bite marks and teeth. An odontologist Dr. Richard Souviron saw the crime’s uneven, chipped and crooked teeth and decided to take photographs (Terranova 2020). It would enable the doctor to examine the marks made on the teeth of victims and compare them to the potential suspects. After seeing Bundy’s distinctive teeth, however, the expert determined that Bundy’s dental profile would easily be distinguished from other suspects.
It is difficult to determine bite marks due to the malleability and flexibility of flesh. When it became apparent that some victims had been left with scarring by crawfish, many cases led to convictions (Selby2020). Additionally, skin changes over time after death. For example, if the victim’s body was examined in Ted Bundy cases too slowly, it might have made it more difficult for the killer to be proven guilty of the crime. The evidence at the trial was limited because forensic science wasn’t well developed in the early days of forensic science.