Utah Authorities Link Ted Bundy to 1974 Killing of Teen Melissa Ann Smith via DNA

Utah authorities announced Tuesday that DNA testing links serial killer Ted Bundy to the 1974 murder of 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith, 52 years to the day after a hunter found her body in the woods. Bundy, who has been dead since 1989, is now tied to another Utah teenager's death through the testing. Officials said the finding closes the cold case.

The tally of Bundy's confirmed victims has continued to grow as DNA technology has advanced, according to the reporting. Officials were said to have detailed how the DNA evidence connected Bundy to the killing. The excerpts do not say what happens next in the case.

CBS News, the left-leaning outlet, leads with the link between Bundy and the cold case as stated by Utah authorities and points readers to a report by correspondent Jericka Duncan. Its headline calls Bundy a serial killer linked to a Utah teen's murder, and its excerpt names Smith, her age and the year, while saying little about how the testing was done or when the body was found. Fox News, the right-leaning outlet, frames the story around the official disclosure. Its headline says authorities revealed the DNA evidence, and its excerpt says officials detailed how it tied Bundy to the murder and closed the case 52 years after the body was found. Both sides agree on the core facts: Smith's name, her age, the 1974 date and the DNA link. The difference is emphasis. CBS highlights a correspondent's report, while Fox highlights the officials' explanation of the evidence and the case's closure. AP, the alternative source, adds distinct details: the announcement came exactly 52 years after a hunter found the body, and Bundy's confirmed victim count keeps rising with DNA advances.