Bryan Severson.

On September 17, 1975, in an attempt to ditch the vehicle to keep it out of the hands of the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Department (who were interested in searching it for evidence linked with his multi-state murder spree), Ted Bundy sold his beige 1968 Volkswagen sedan to eighteen-year-old Bryan Severson: titled ‘Bill of Sale’ and written on what appears to be a yellow legal pad, the receipt is hand-written in red ink and states that on that date, Bryan Severson ‘has bought and paid for in full the sum of $800 (eight hundred dollars),’ signed Theodore R. Bundy. Hairs from three of Bundy’s victims were later found in the VW, according to reports. Bryan was born on February 5, 1958 and currently lives in Bountiful, Utah. Over the years Severson’s memory may have gotten a bit hazy in regards to the encounter: in October 2022 he did an interview with true crime researcher Chris Mortenson, who said that Bundy immediately ‘took off’ after he paid him for that car, but in a different interview conducted in front of Ted’s rooming house, he said he had driven Ted back to his rooming house after the purchase was completed… so, who knows? Interesting fact: he went to the same high school as Melissa Smith, and was a year below her.

Bryan Severson.
Bryan Severson from the 1974 Hillcrest High School yearbook
Bryan Severson as he looks today.
Severson in front of Bundy’s former rooming house.
The title for Bundy’s Volkswagen.
Bundy’s car listed for sale in The Deseret News on September 10, 1975.
Some notes related to Bryan Severson.
A letter to the Board of County Commissioners of Salt Lake County dated November 6, 1975 in relation to the transaction Bundy made with Bryan Severson.
A letter dated November 12, 1975 from W. Sterling Evans, County Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners to Gerald R. Hansen, Salt Lake County Auditor in regards to the money Bryan Severson lost after his new car was impounded and taken from him.
A subpoena to testify issued to Bryan Severson in relation to Ted’s murder trial in Aspen, CO (he never had to report, he had escaped and was in Florida by the time January 4, 1978 rolled around).
Ted’s VW after he was incarcerated.
A comment left on Chris Mortenson’s YouTube video on Bryan Severson.
More comments left on Chris Mortenson’s YouTube video on Bryan Severson.
More comments left on Chris Mortenson’s YouTube video on Bryan Severson.
More comments left on Chris Mortenson’s YouTube video on Bryan Severson.
Where Severson lived at the time he bought Bundys car, located at 1161 East Serpentine Way in Sandy, Utah.