Neighborhood Watch

They were dropping like flies in the Pacific Northwest. The police kept following leads but all it led to was dead ends. Around and around Oregon, Colorado, Washington the cops could never catch this man. It was possibly because they were looking for the wrong person. They believed a serial killer was an unkept nuisance. A basic textbook serial killer. However, they didn't expect it to be a handsome man who in fact worked at a law firm. He went by the name of Ted Bundy. 

Ted was a normal man at first glance but he definitely had things under the surface that would terrify anyone who found out. The serial killer would end up being the most famous and well-known killer in the entire United States. Multiple movies have been made about him, but what makes Ted Bundy so special? What really made him stand out from other serial killers? 

Ted worked at a law firm. He was an unusually handsome man. When you think of a serial killer Ted Bundy would be the exact opposite of what you picture. Not only was Ted Bundy handsome but he was also a genius. He knew how to lure in his prey without seeming suspicious. If you ask me, that's what's most terrifying about this man.

He would walk through the neighborhood with crutches or his arm in a sling and often ask an attractive, white woman to help him with putting something in the car. Helping him was his victims biggest mistake. He used his kindness, attractiveness, and charm to make him seem completely harmless. But when his victims were vulnerable, he would strike. 

It's scary to think about. There was someone mysterious in their neighborhood, but no one even noticed. He looked like a regular man, no one would think twice before helping him. Once he was finished with the vile things he did to these women, he would discard their bodies like trash. 

The only thing that the police knew about this killer was that he had a beige Volkswagen Beetle. The amount of times that the police had pulled him over is astonishing. Not many people had that car but no one expected a handsome man like Ted to be a serial killer. In Colorado Ted had been pulled over got speeding. The police looked through his trunk and found a suspicious array of items such as rope, a crowbar, tape. They took him into jail to do some questioning but Bundy ended up escaping the next day. 

The police started looking for him again when they got a call from ted Bundy's ex lover. She told them everything about Ted Bundy because the man they described on the television sounded too close to Ted for her comfort. The police looked into this man but assumed that it wasn't him. He was just too non serial killer like. His ex lover continued to talk to Ted daily but she was scared that he really could be behind all of these kidnappings and murders. 

Once the police finally started to suspect him of the murders he was arrested and tried for sexual assault and only one of the murders. The police would come to find out it was not one but over 30. He was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole. However, Ted managed to escape the prison. He ran nonstop and made a new identity for himself. He moved to Washington. He still talked to his ex lover who was trying to help the police capture him. The police could just never catch this man. He was uncatchable. The police finally caught him and he got the death sentence. His last words being "Give My Love to My Family and Friends" before his life was taken by the electric chair. 

I tell you this story because someone could be in your neighborhood, right under your nose and you wouldn't even notice. Just people disappearing left and right and your neighbor that's a little too friendly could be responsible. A mysterious man in your neighborhood could be not so mysterious. Someone you wouldn't suspect in a million years. That's what made Ted such a successful killer. He used his charm and his kindness to lure strangers into his trap. Although this may sound terrifying it's true. Mysterious people aren't always suspicious people. They would be hiding right under our noses and we would still wave good morning to them everyday. Ted Bundy was at large for so long because people didn't believe that someone so handsome could be a serial killer. 

To be honest, it kind of sounds like pretty privilege. Even though there were many signs that Ted was the killer, I feel like he never got arrested because of the fact that he was handsome. He even worked at a place that practiced law that was searching for this notorious criminal. None of his coworkers expected him to be the exact man they were looking for. What I'm trying to say is don't rule anybody out because of the way they look. Don't try to arrest an innocent man just because he looks like a serial killer, don't ignore people because they look well kept. As I said Ted Bundy was a genius, he knew how to send the police on a wild goose chase while being completely safe himself. His charm was the thing that made him last so long. If people around you are disappearing instead of looking at that one neighborhood outcast, maybe keep an eye on that man who lives across the street. With the supposedly perfect life, because under the surface he could be battling demons bigger than any of us. He may be hiding, hiding behind his handsome mask and secretly be the next Ted Bundy.

Mysterious people aren't always mysterious. Sometimes they are just that neighbor next door that brings you delicious cookies. But watch out, you never know what could be in those cookies.