A forgotten Vail murder victim: Julie Cunningham, killed by Ted Bundy

Most articles about the arrest of Richard "Rossi" Moreau, who's been accused of murder in a Saturday night shooting in Vail that left one person dead and three injured, have noted how rare such incidents have been in the ski community. Reference this Vail Daily report, which quotes officials who...

By Michael Roberts

November 9, 2009

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Most articles about the arrest of Richard "Rossi" Moreau, who's been accused of murder in a Saturday night shooting in Vail that left one person dead and three injured, have noted how rare such incidents have been in the ski community. Reference this Vail Daily report, which quotes officials who say they can only recall "two homicides that have occurred in Vail in its 47-year history, both in the late '70s or early '80s." But another notable slaying took place there in 1975 -- one which made a 1999 Denver Post list citing Colorado's crimes of the century.

Her name was Julie Cunningham, and she worked at a Vail ski shop. Ted Bundy, one of the era's most heinous and notorious serial killers, confessed to having murdered Cunningham shortly before his execution. As documented in former Westword staffer Steve Jackson's book No Stone Unturned, her body was never recovered.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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