The Case of the Chi Omega Sorority House Murders
On 15 January 1978, Ted Bundy entered the Chi Omega sorority house at Florida State University in Tallahassee and attacked five women in their bedrooms. Margaret Bowman, 21, and Lisa Levy, 20, were murdered, while Kathy Kleiner, Karen Chandler and Cheryl Thomas survived their injuries. Bundy was later convicted of the two murders.
Overview / Background
The Chi Omega house was home to young women attending Florida State University. In the early morning hours of 15 January 1978, Bundy entered the residence while the women were asleep. The attack occurred only days after Bundy's escape from custody in Colorado. He had fled to Florida and was living under a false name in Tallahassee. Bundy entered several bedrooms and attacked the occupants with a wooden club. The assault was extraordinarily violent and occurred within a short period.
- Margaret Elizabeth Bowman, 21, female, Florida State University student, Murdered by Ted Bundy in the sorority house attack.
- Lisa Levy, 20, female, Florida State University student, Murdered by Ted Bundy in the same attack.
- Kathy Kleiner, 20, female, Florida State University student, Survived the attack.
- Karen Chandler, 21, female, Florida State University student, Survived the Ted Bundy attack.
- Cheryl Thomas, 21, female, Florida State University student, Survived the attack.
Crime Scene
Bundy entered the sorority house shortly after 3:00 a.m. and attacked the women as they slept. Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy were beaten to death. Kathy Kleiner and Karen Chandler were severely injured but survived. Cheryl Thomas was attacked in a separate bedroom and also survived. The weapon was believed to have been a piece of firewood or similar wooden club taken from the house.
Investigation
Tallahassee police immediately began investigating the murders and attacks. Investigators recovered physical evidence from the house and interviewed the surviving victims and witnesses. Kathy Kleiner, despite suffering severe injuries, was able to provide information about the attack. The investigation quickly focused on Bundy after he was arrested in Pensacola three weeks later. Bundy was ultimately charged with the murders of Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy, as well as the attempted murders of the surviving women.
Outcome
Ted Bundy was convicted in 1979 of the murders of Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy and sentenced to death. He was also convicted of the attempted murders of Kathy Kleiner, Karen Chandler and Cheryl Thomas. The Chi Omega murders became one of the defining cases in Bundy's prosecution and contributed to his eventual execution in Florida in 1989.
Notes
This was a single attack involving five victims, two of whom were murdered and three of whom survived. Keeping all five women in one case file provides the clearest record of the incident.
Other Information
- Margaret Bowman was 21 years old.
- Lisa Levy was 20 years old.
- Kathy Kleiner was 20 years old and survived.
- Karen Chandler was 21 years old and survived.
- Cheryl Thomas was 21 years old and survived.
- All five victims were Florida State University students.
- Bundy attacked the women while they were asleep.
- The attack occurred only days after Bundy's escape from custody in Colorado.
- Bundy was convicted of the two murders and three attempted murders.
Media
- The Ted Bundy Tapes
- Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
- Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer
- The Riverman
- ABC News
- Oxygen
- Court TV
- Numerous documentaries and true-crime programmes covering Ted Bundy