Serial killer Ted Bundy refused to eat his final meal and used his final words to pass on his ‘love’ to his friends and family before being executed for his crimes.
The vile killer was executed on 24 January 1989 for the murders and rapes of dozens of women in the 1970s.
After initially denying his crimes and being found guilty at trial, Bundy would later confess to raping, torturing and killing 30 women across several states between 1974 and 1978 - however, many experts believe the actual number of victims could be much higher.
Bundy opened up about his desire to kill to FBI Special Agent William Hagmaier, giving him a grim insight into how his mind worked.
Hagmaier said: "He said that after a while, murder is not just a crime of lust or violence. It becomes possession.
“They are part of you... [the victim] becomes a part of you, and you are forever one... and the grounds where you kill them or leave them become sacred to you, and you will always be drawn back to them."
And despite his despicable crimes, Bundy never once showed guilt or remorse - speaking after his conviction, he said: "Guilt doesn't solve anything, really. It hurts you. I guess I am in the enviable position of not having to deal with guilt."
Bundy was put to death at Florida State Prison in Raiford, where he was given a standard-issue final meal of steak, eggs, hash browns and toast because he refused to choose his own last meal.
The killer reportedly didn't touch any of his final meal and he died hungry.
Before his execution he called his mother Louise Bundy twice, who did not attend his execution.
Explaining her decision not to go, she said: “It’s a circus and we didn’t feel the agony we would go through by going down there would compensate for a few minutes talking to Ted through the glass. And he also felt that way too."
Bundy was given the electric chair at 7.16am on 24 January and when asked if he had any last words, he told attorney Jim Coleman and Methodist minister Fred Lawrence with a 'quavering' voice and a slight hesitation: "Jim and Fred, I'd like you to give my love to my family and friends."
Outside the prison, hundreds of people had turned up to celebrate his death, setting off fireworks when it was confirmed he had died, and cheering when his body was taken from the prison.
Following his death, Bundy’s body was cremated and scattered at an undisclosed location in Washington State.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: True Crime, Crime