Map: The campus where Ted Bundy abducted Donna Gail Manson

Security guard sighting

A campus security guard was confident that he saw Manson walking along the C&N road on three separate occasions between 8 p.m. and 9.30 p.m.

In his statement, he said that she was walking back and forth:

The first time I was driving north on what we call the C&N road at approximately 8.00 p.m. or 8.30 p.m. and I observed her walking south. I went over and checked some buildings in the resident area and about 30 minutes later I observed her walking northward. I went into the security office, and about 30 minutes after I had seen her, I again went north on the C&N road and again observed her walking southward.

This sighting is credible for two reasons. Firstly, the security guard knew who Manson was because he had seen her around campus in the past. Secondly, he also told investigators that she was wearing a long maxi coat, which her roommates confirmed.

If he wasn't mistaken, then it means that Manson either got sidetracked or lied to her roommates about her plans.

Many authors believe that Bundy approached the 19-year-old as she was walking toward the library area. However, this sighting raises the possibility that Bundy happened across her elsewhere.

Although Manson did not say that she was meeting anyone, her roommates did note that she changed her outfit multiple times and seemed fixated on her appearance.

Parking Lot F

This aerial map shows Manson's dorm, Parking Lot F, and the C&N road that she may have walked along. Note that we digitally removed the buildings above the C&N road because they did not exist in 1974.

During the abductions of Georgann Hawkins and Susan Elaine Rancourt, Bundy strategically parked his Volkswagen Bug in areas that were dark, within walking distance, and slightly off the beaten track.

He typically lured his victims back to his vehicle by feigning an injury and asking them for their assistance in carrying something. Once there, he would wait until his victim's back was turned and then strike them over the head with a crowbar.

This was Bundy's preferred M.O. while he was targeting women in the Pacific Northwest.

Bundy liked to park his car relatively close to his "hunting ground". That way, if a woman did fall for one of his ruses, they wouldn't have to walk too far.

This reduced the chances of them being spotted in public together. It also gave his target less time to have second thoughts.

If we take all of this into account, then it is difficult to look at this map and not see Parking Lot F as a prime location for such an attack:

1. It is a short distance from the campus dorm areas.

2. It is slightly off the beaten path.

3. There is a secluded area on the western side of the lot that is obscured by trees.

4. Aerial images show that it existed in 1974.

The pathway that Manson may have walked along

This is a section of the pathway between the dorm building and the library.

The red arrow indicates the direction that Manson would have walked.

A number of true-crime authors have posited the theory that Bundy ambushed the 19-year-old while she was walking along this pathway and then carried her to his vehicle.

However, there are two problems with this theory.

Firstly, traffic in the area was relatively high that evening because there were three different events occurring on the Evergreen campus. Therefore, it stands to reason that this location was pretty busy at the time.

Secondly, this kind of ambush attack does not square with Bundy's M.O. at the time.

All in all, it seems far more likely that Bundy employed some sort of injury ruse to trick Manson into accompanying him back to his vehicle.