The Case of Georgann Hawkins

Georgann Hawkins, 18, disappeared from the University of Washington campus in Seattle on 11 June 1974 while walking back to her sorority house. Ted Bundy later confessed to abducting and murdering her, but despite extensive searches, her remains have never been recovered.

Georgann Hawkins was an 18-year-old student at the University of Washington. Originally from Tacoma, she was studying psychology and was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. On the night of 11 June 1974, Georgann attended a friend's birthday celebration at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house. Shortly after midnight, she left to walk approximately two blocks to her sorority house. She never arrived. A fellow student later reported hearing a woman calling for help near the alley behind the fraternity and sorority houses. Investigators subsequently determined that Bundy had abducted Georgann from the area.

Georgann was last seen walking along the University of Washington campus near the sorority and fraternity houses. Investigators found evidence suggesting a struggle in the area where she disappeared. Despite searches of the campus and surrounding areas, no remains were recovered. Bundy later told investigators that he had abducted Georgann and killed her. He provided several accounts of where he had disposed of her remains, but searches based on his information failed to locate her body.

Georgann's disappearance was investigated alongside the growing number of young women who had vanished in Washington during the spring and summer of 1974. Witness accounts and the similarities between the cases eventually helped investigators connect the disappearances to Ted Bundy. Bundy confessed to Georgann's murder before his execution in 1989. He provided investigators with information about the circumstances of her abduction and disposal of her remains, but her body has never been found.

Ted Bundy was never separately tried or convicted for Georgann Hawkins' murder. He confessed to killing her before his execution. Georgann remains one of Bundy's identified victims whose remains have never been recovered.

Georgann's disappearance occurred only weeks after several other young women had vanished from the Pacific Northwest, contributing to growing fears about a possible serial offender targeting young women.