Ted Bundy's mother: Love never waned

Ted Bundy's mother Louise died in December. Her son was convicted of several murders in 1980. For many years his mother refused to believe his guilt. He admitted to the crimes before his execution in 1989.?

By Staff,?Associated Press / January 9, 2013

In this July 30, 1979 file photo, Louise Bundy, mother of convicted killer Ted Bundy, leaves court in Miami. Bundy, who was a staunch defender of her serial killer son before he made a series of death-row confessions, died in December 2012.

AP Photo, File

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Louise?Bundy, who was a staunch defender of her serial killer son,?Ted?Bundy, before he made a series of death-row confessions, has died. She was 88.

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She died last month in her hometown of Tacoma after a long illness, The News Tribune newspaper reported Wednesday (http://is.gd/G8BVv7?).

Her death was confirmed to The Associated Press by the Rev. Melvin Woodworth, pastor of Tacoma's First United Methodist Church, which she attended from 1951 until a few years ago, when her health prevented her.

In the mid-1970s, Louise?Bundy?was a married mother of five working as a secretary at the University of Puget Sound when authorities across the nation began to accuse her eldest son in a series of gruesome killings.

For years, she refused to believe the charges.

"Ted?Bundy?does not go around killing women and little children!" she told The News Tribune in 1980 after Ted?Bundy?was convicted in the Florida killings. "And I know this, too, that our never-ending faith in?Ted?- our faith that he is innocent - has never wavered. And it never will."

Her stance softened after?Ted?Bundy?made a number of death-row confessions, the newspaper reported.

He ultimately confessed to murdering more than two dozen women and was executed in 1989 after being convicted of killing two Florida State University sorority members and a 12-year-old girl.

Louise?Bundy?spoke with him twice on his execution day, telling him at the end of the second call, "You'll always be my precious son."

Ted?Bundy?was among some of the notorious criminals who have been represented by Seattle lawyer John Henry Browne. He recalled Louise?Bundy?as "very quiet, very much concerned about her son."

In a telephone interview Wednesday, Browne said he hadn't spoken with Louise?Bundy?in several decades but had flown to Florida with her several times after?Bundy?was arrested there.

"I do know her insistence on?Ted's?innocence actually waned even before he started confessing, but her love for him certainly didn't," Browne said.

Louise?Bundy?remained in Tacoma following her son's execution and was an active member of the First United Methodist Church.

Her son's troubles took a toll, the newspaper reported. Louise?Bundy?and her husband, John?Bundy, endured jokes and dirty looks over the years and often changed their telephone number to avoid angry calls.

Information from: The News Tribune,?http://www.thenewstribune.com

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/dBRx7Mx3UXc/Ted-Bundy-s-mother-Love-never-waned

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