Carole Ann Boone is a name forever tied to one of America’s worst serial killers—Ted Bundy. While Bundy’s crimes have filled books, movies, and TV shows, Boone’s part in his drama too often plays second fiddle. Her unhesitating loyalty to Bundy during his trial, marrying him in court, and having a child together make her the public fascination figure.

Although she was a reserved person by nature, Boone’s choice to remain loyal to Bundy raised questions and intrigue that persist to this day. This article delves into her life from her childhood and professional life to her scandalous relationship with Bundy and her final legacy. Who was Carole Ann Boone outside of the headlines? Let’s take a closer look.

Quick Bio

Who Is Carole Ann Boone?

Carole Ann Boone was an American woman who gained a kind of celebrity status due to her romantic relationship with serial killer Ted Bundy. She became famous in the late 1970s and early 1980s during Bundy’s highly publicized murder trials. Despite overwhelming evidence of Bundy’s guilt, Boone remained convinced of his innocence for years, speaking publicly on his behalf.

Boone was in the news nationwide when she married Bundy in court during his trial in 1980. More shocking was her decision to give birth to his child while he was on death row. Boone’s actions have been questioned and the topic of much discussion among true crime enthusiasts, with many questioning what drove her to defend Bundy so passionately.

Early Life

Carole Ann Boone, born Carole Ann Carson on April 12, 1947, grew up in Seattle, Washington. She was a middle child in a middle-class family and endured an early tragedy when her brother, Jon Franklin Carson, drowned at age 15. This experience might have had a profound effect on her, perhaps affecting her emotional terrain.

Boone attended Lincoln High School in Seattle but supposedly dropped out of school at the age of 17. There is little history on her younger adult life, but she was described as being smart, independent, and assertive. She had already experienced one failed marriage prior to meeting Ted Bundy and was employed as a single mother caring for a teenage boy.

Career Beginnings

It was in the middle 1970s that Carole Ann Boone worked for the Washington State Department of Emergency Services in Olympia. There, she met Ted Bundy, then one of the employees of the department, while on the hunt for missing women—all of whom he had in fact murdered. Workmates said of Boone that she was competent, self-assured, and obstinate.

Although a forceful woman, Boone struggled with her private life. She was fiery and outspoken, which drew praise and criticism at the workplace. Her relationship with Bundy surprised many of her colleagues, especially given the nature of crimes Bundy was alleged to have committed.

Who Was Carole Ann Boone’s Husband?

Carole Ann Boone’s most famous romance was with Ted Bundy, America’s most notorious serial killer. They were co-workers and established a romance over time. Boone was loyal to Bundy during his trials, often attending hearings at court and arguing in his defense at court. Their romance became more serious as Bundy proposed to her in court, and the two of them married in 1980 while he stood trial for murder in the killing of 12-year-old Kimberly Leach.

The biggest shock came in 1982 when Boone gave birth to a daughter, Rose Bundy, born unmarried while Bundy sat on death row. Legend has it that they were able to have sex on prison visits and go undetected. Boone divorced Bundy and moved away with her daughter by 1986, however, putting distance between herself and the man she had once so forcefully defended.

Carole Ann Boone’s Physical Appearance

Carole Ann Boone was petite and reserved in appearance. She stood around 5 feet 6 inches and was around 121 pounds. Boone had shoulder-length dark brown hair and deep brown eyes. She dressed simply—prone to be seen wearing glasses and modest clothing, especially during her public appearances at Bundy’s trials.

Her understated style was consistent with her reserved personality. Boone never wanted to be in the spotlight and dressed in practical clothes rather than flashy outfits. Even under the spotlight of publicity, she avoided the media and did not smile for camera shots very often, suggesting a woman burdened by her situation.

Net Worth

Carole Ann Boone was a career-employed woman who worked for the state government and earned a steady living, and her estimated net worth was close to $100,000 when she just disappeared from the public. Her clerical work in the Department of Emergency Services gave her most of her income. She did not make money off of Bundy, either, nor sought out media endorsements or interviews.

After divorcing Bundy and moving out with her daughter, Boone lived a quiet existence. Little is known about her financial circumstances later in life, but it is reported she kept a low profile, using an alias to shield her daughter from media attention. Her economic security was doubtless modest, in keeping with her desire to live anonymously.

Social Media

Carole Ann Boone was not present on modern social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Her life took place before the social media era, and after Bundy’s death, she vanished from sight. This absence has helped to make her mysterious, with individuals wondering where she went and how she lived after the split with Bundy.

There are no reported interviews, blogs, or online writing anywhere attributed to Boone. Any photos or quoted material being shared online are generally from news articles covering Bundy’s trials. Boone’s choice to remain out of the spotlight seems to have been deliberate, perhaps so her daughter could lead a normal life outside of media attention.

Legacy

Carole Ann Boone’s story is now a lasting part of Ted Bundy’s infamous legacy. Marrying him in jail and having his child were front-page news and locked them into place as one of the most bizarre twists of fate in a case that was already filled with shock. Books, documentaries, literature, and dramatized TV movies like Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile have all sensationalized her role, creating public fascination.

Boone passed away in January of 2018 at the age of 70, seemingly in a small town anonymously. Her legacy is tied to one of America’s darkest criminal moments. Some see her as a victim of Bundy manipulation, while others believe she was motivated by true—if misguided—love. Either way, her life is a chilling and notable footnote in the history of the Bundy case.