Evergreen State College

Author: Jewls Krueger

Donna Manson and Ted Bundy

On March 12, 1974, Donna Manson left her dorm room and was on her way to a jazz concert at the Evergreen State College library. Along the way, she encountered serial killer Ted Bundy. In other abductions of college women, Bundy had a cast on one arm and was carrying books, he would convince the women to help him carry the books to his car, and then render the victim unconscious while they were putting the books into the car by striking them with a tire iron. This is likely what happened to Donna Manson, though there were little clues and no witnesses that came forward after the abduction.

The Second in a String of Murders

Donna Manson was Ted Bundy’s second murder vicim; his first murder was on February 1, 1974, when he abducted and killed 19-year old University of Washington student Lynda Ann Healy. Because the location of Lynda and Donna’s abductions were in different counties about an hour apart, authorities didn’t link the two until much later.

Ted Bundy Confesses

Prior to his execution in 1989, Ted Bundy confessed to Donna Manson’s murder claiming he decapitated her body after murdering her and dumped her body and head in different locations. It is still unconfirmed exactly where he dumped her body.

Further Reading

The Stranger Beside Me

Ann Rule's 'The Stranger Beside Me' is required reading for any true crime fan. Anne Rule was tasked with writing about a series of murders, all while working with the murderer, Ted Bundy, at a suicide hotline.

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The Campus Today

The Evergreen State College is located just northwest of Olympia, Washington. The library where Donna Manson was headed is located in the north area of the campus.