The Case of Nancy Wilcox

Nancy Wilcox, 16, disappeared from her Holladay home on 1 October 1974 after leaving following an argument with her father. Ted Bundy later confessed to abducting and murdering her, claiming he buried her near Capitol Reef National Park, but Nancy's remains have never been found.

Nancy was a junior at Olympus High School and was active as a cheerleader and in her local church. She also worked as a waitress. On the evening of 1 October 1974, Nancy argued with her parents after her father prevented her from seeing her boyfriend. At approximately 9:00 p.m., she left the family home in Holladay and never returned. Although some later records list 2 October as her disappearance date, the original police report records that Nancy was last seen leaving home at approximately 9:00 p.m. on 1 October. Her father reported her missing the following day.

Nancy was last seen leaving her family's home in Holladay. No physical crime scene associated with her murder was identified. Ted Bundy later told investigators that he abducted Nancy and buried her along the Notom-Bullfrog Road near Capitol Reef National Park, approximately 200 miles south of Salt Lake City. Searches failed to locate her remains.

Nancy's disappearance was initially treated as a runaway case. Authorities investigated her friends, relatives and boyfriend, but no evidence established that she had voluntarily left home. As other young women disappeared in Utah, investigators began considering a connection to Ted Bundy. Bundy's eventual confession confirmed the family's fears that Nancy had been murdered. In a confession shortly before his execution, Bundy acknowledged killing Nancy and provided information about where he claimed to have buried her. Despite searches based on his information, her body has never been recovered.

Ted Bundy was never separately tried or convicted for Nancy Wilcox's murder. He confessed to killing her shortly before his execution in 1989. Nancy remains a confirmed Bundy victim, but her remains have never been recovered.

Nancy's family spent years believing she had disappeared voluntarily before Bundy's confession finally confirmed that she had been murdered. An empty grave was dedicated for her in 1990 after searches failed to recover her remains.