On January 12, 1975, Ted Bundy abducted and murdered Caryn Campbell from a hallway at the Wildwood Inn, a hotel where she was staying with her husband and two step-children near Aspen, Co (learn more about Caryn Campbell and the Wildwood Inn by clicking on the link in "Related Locations" below). By August of 1975, Bundy was arrested in Utah and was subsequently charged with the aggravated kidnapping of another woman, Carol DeRonch, who had escaped from Bundy and was able to identify him.

After being found guilty in Utah of the kidnapping, Bundy was transferred to Aspen in 1977 to face trial for the murder of Caryn Campbell. Bundy had previously studied law, and decided to represent himself at trial. Due to this, the judge ruled that Bundy would not be required to wear handcuffs or leg shackles. On June 10, 1977, Bundy convinced the courthouse officers to allow him into the library on the second floor of the courthouse in order to do research pertaining to his case. When the guards weren't looking, Bundy leapt out of the second floor window and started running.

For 6 days Bundy hid in the wilderness of Aspen. He had planned on taking trails to Crested Butte, but had instead gotten lost in the woods and was forced to break into a hunting lodge and camping trailer for food and rest. After 6 days on the run, Bundy stole a car from a golf course in Aspen and was subsequently pulled over after driving erratically. He was immediately recognized by the officer that pulled him over, arrested, and incarcerated in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.