When we talk about true crime history, one name stands out as a chilling embodiment of evil: Ted Bundy. With his friendly smile and well-groomed appearance, Bundy concealed a sinister streak that terrorized America in the 1970s. His gruesome confession to the murders of 28 women, though authorities suspected the actual count to be much higher, sent shockwaves through the nation. But in the shadow of Bundy’s infamy lies a story even more riveting – the stories of some of the women who survived him.
Carol DaRonch
In chilling detail, “The Ted Bundy Tapes” recounts Carol DaRonch’s harrowing encounter with Bundy on a fateful day in 1974. She was just 18, unaware of the looming danger despite the string of abductions and killings. DaRonch’s story unfolds like a nightmare as she describes how Bundy posed as a police officer, luring her into his car with false pretenses. The signs were there, but in a close-knit community, trust prevailed.
DaRonch’s experience took a terrifying turn when Bundy threatened her life at gunpoint. She fought for her survival and escaped, ultimately saving herself. Her courage in the face of unspeakable horror is nothing short of heroic.
The Unbelievable Backlash: Doubting the Survivors
After her escape, DaRonch faced not only the trauma of her experience but also skepticism from those who couldn’t believe Bundy, with his charm and intelligence, could be a killer. Society’s failure to believe women, especially when they accuse charismatic men, is a recurring theme. Nevertheless, DaRonch testified in court, helping to connect Bundy to the unsolved killings in Washington and Oregon.
Rhonda Stapley
Stapley’s encounter began when she was waiting for her university bus, and Bundy, driving his ominous Volkswagen Beetle, approached her. In her own words, she recounts the unnerving moment when Bundy rolled down the passenger window and offered her a ride to the University of Utah. To her, it seemed like a friendly gesture from one college student to another.
However, as the ride progressed, Stapley’s unease grew. Bundy deviated from the usual route to the university, raising her suspicions. She questioned him about their destination, and that’s when the facade of normalcy shattered. Bundy, with an unsettling calmness, uttered the chilling words, “I’m going to kill you.” Right after, he put his hands around her throat and squeezed till she was unconscious, while he was assaulting her physically and sexually.
Stapley’s instincts kicked in, and when he got distracted by something near his car she made a daring escape. Fleeing into a desolate area, she encountered a fast-moving mountain stream. Falling into it may have been a stroke of luck, for it became her lifeline. The natural obstacle thwarted Bundy’s pursuit and likely saved her life.
As Stapley reflects on her terrifying experience, she rightly emphasizes that the real heroes in this dark narrative are the victims. Those who faced the unimaginable horrors inflicted by Ted Bundy and emerged to tell their stories deserve our utmost respect and admiration.
In the shadow of Bundy’s darkness, Rhonda Stapley’s story serves as a testament to human resilience and the will to survive against all odds. Her escape is a harrowing reminder of the horrors that unfolded during Bundy’s reign of terror and the importance of acknowledging the strength of those who lived to tell the tale.
Kathy & Karen
January 1978 stands out as a night of unspeakable horror. It was the night when two students, Kathy Kleiner and Karen Chandler, found themselves thrust into a nightmare orchestrated by none other than the notorious Ted Bundy.
The Sorority House Invasion: A Nightmare Unfolds
On that fateful night, Kathy and Karen were enjoying a quiet night in their Florida sorority house. They retired to their beds around 10:30 PM, blissfully unaware of the impending terror. In the early hours of the morning, their peaceful slumber was shattered by the horrifying sound of an intruder crashing into their room. It was Bundy, who had escaped custody and embarked on a deranged murder spree.
Before entering Kathy and Karen’s room, Bundy had already brutally murdered two other girls in the sorority house, attacking them as they slept. Now, he unleashed a savage assault on Kathy and Karen, repeatedly striking them with a log. The injuries inflicted were devastating, and the room bore witness to the unthinkable violence that had unfolded within its walls.
Karen Chandler suffered severe head injuries, and Kathy Kleiner, in a state of shock, was found sitting cross-legged on her bed, her jaw gruesomely injured, hanging on by a single hinge. The brutality of the attack left indelible scars, both physical and emotional.
Heroes of Survival: The long road to healing from Ted Bundy’s nightmare
Following the horrific assault, Kathy Kleiner and Karen Chandler faced a long and painful road to recovery. Kathy’s jaw was wired shut for a week as she healed from her injuries. Her resilience was nothing short of remarkable, as she returned to the scene of the attack, a chilling reminder of the blood that had splattered across her bedspread. The memory of her beautiful bedspread, carefully chosen with her mother, now tainted by violence, remains etched in her mind.
In the face of unimaginable terror, Kathy Kleiner and Karen Chandler emerged as heroes. Their courage and strength in battling Bundy that night, and their resilience in the aftermath, are a testament to the human spirit’s indomitable will to survive.
Their story serves as a haunting reminder of the horrors inflicted by Ted Bundy, and the enduring trauma that lingers long after the physical wounds have healed. Kathy and Karen’s survival is a testament to their strength and serves as an inspiration for all who face adversity.
Cheryl Thomas
About an hour after the sorority attach, Bundy wandered a few blocks over, and climbed into a duplex apartment around the neighborhood.
At the time, Cheryl Thomas, a 21-year-old dance major at Florida State University, was living at this house. She had an evening out with friends at a disco club in Tallahassee.
Unbeknownst to her, she would soon become another victim of the notorious serial killer Ted Bundy. After attacking women at the FSU Chi Omega sorority house, Bundy broke into Thomas’s off-campus apartment through a kitchen window.
Cheryl Thomas’ life took a devastating turn that night. She went from a peaceful slumber to waking up in Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, with five skull fractures, a dislocated shoulder, nerve damage, hearing loss, and a broken jaw. The attack left her in a semi-conscious state, her face battered and bruised.
Neighbors’ Concern and the 911 Call
During Bundy’s attack, the neighbors on the other side of Thomas’ duplex began to hear a disturbing thumping noise. Worried about their neighbor, they called Thomas’s phone, only to hear the sound of furniture being moved in her kitchen. Sensing something was terribly wrong, they dialed 911. When the police arrived, they received no response from Thomas. What they found inside was a scene of horror – Cheryl Thomas, lying in a semi-conscious state, had been brutally bludgeoned. Blood stained her bed and floor, and a makeshift mask made of pantyhose was discovered amidst the bed sheets.
Cheryl Thomas was fortunate to survive the brutal attack, but the physical and emotional scars were deep. Her dreams of becoming a professional dancer were shattered as she endured long-term hearing loss in one ear and balance issues. Bundy’s violence had not only threatened her life but also left her with lasting challenges.
Elizabeth Kloepfer
In the chilling saga of Ted Bundy’s life, one woman’s story remains shrouded in mystery and turmoil – Elizabeth “Liz” Kloepfer, Bundy’s longtime girlfriend and former fiancée. Her book, “The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy,” offers a haunting glimpse into her six-year relationship with the infamous serial killer.
In her memoir, written under the pseudonym Elizabeth Kendall, Kloepfer describes herself as a shy, insecure, and lonely single mother, desperately seeking love and stability in her life. Moving from Ogden, Utah, to Seattle, she found herself working as a secretary at the University of Washington Medical School, hoping to change her unhappy life. It was in a bar in Seattle that she first met Ted Bundy, a chance encounter that would alter the course of her life forever.
Bundy, with his charm and charisma, offered her companionship and love, becoming her anchor in a turbulent sea of loneliness and insecurity. Kloepfer handed her life to him, seeking care and affection. Their relationship became a rollercoaster of emotions, marked by warmth and love one moment and cold distance the next.
The Almost Marriage: Into Ted Bundy’s complexity
Their relationship was a volatile one, marked by a moment in 1970 when they attempted to get married on a whim. Yet, Bundy’s unpredictable behavior led to the tearing up of their marriage license. Their love was strong but inconsistent, and Kloepfer often found herself bewildered by his sudden changes in mood.
As Bundy’s murders began to make headlines in the early ’70s, Kloepfer’s suspicions grew. She questioned him about bizarre behaviors and unsettling discoveries, but Bundy’s intelligence and charm always managed to deflect her concerns. It wasn’t until 1975 that she mustered the courage to approach the police, convinced that Bundy was involved in the crimes.
One of the most gripping accounts in the book details a call from Bundy in prison, where he confessed to trying to kill her. His admission of trying to suffocate her with smoke from a blocked fireplace damper painted a chilling picture of the darkness within him.
Parting Ways: The Tragic End of Their Connection
Kloepfer and Bundy eventually parted ways for good. Bundy went on to marry another woman, Carole Ann Boone, while Kloepfer grappled with alcoholism and struggled to connect with people. Her faith became a guiding force through her darkest moments.
Kloepfer’s story is a testament to the complexity of human emotions, the destructive power of a serial killer’s charisma, and the enduring trauma experienced by those who loved him. Her memoir sheds light on the inner turmoil she faced and the internal struggle to reconcile the warm and loving man she once knew with the heinous crimes he committed.
Survived Ted Bundy: The aftermath
The haunting tales of survivors like Carol DaRonch, Rhonda Stapley, Kathy Kleiner, Karen Chandler, Cheryl Thomas and Liz Kloepfer, continue to send shivers down our spines. The legacy of Ted Bundy, that serial killer who used to walk among us, still lingers in the darkest corners of our collective memory.
These survivors, with their unwavering courage, serve as beacons of hope in the face of unspeakable horror. They have emerged from the shadows of Bundy’s darkness, forever changed but indomitable in spirit.
After learning about the incredible survival stories of these six women who escaped Ted Bundy, you won’t want to miss our chilling journey into the world’s 6 most nightmarish prisons.
