Donna Manson

*This article includes details of sexual abuse, sexual assault, and/or rape. Discretion is advised.*

*This article includes details of suicide and/or self harm. Discretion is advised.*

## Donna Manson

### Cause of death

Unknown

**Donna Gail Manson** (June 9, 1954 - March 12, 1974) was a young woman who was murdered by Ted Bundy in Olympia, Washington, on March 12, 1974. She was Bundy's second known murder victim.

## Background

Donna was born in Olympia, Washington, on June 9, 1954. She was a student at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, and was reportedly depressed, and possibly suicidal, at the time of her disappearance.

## Disappearance

Donna was last seen the night of March 12, 1974, at her college. She told her roommate she was planning to attend a jazz concert that was being held on campus. She was last seen between the dorms and the library, walking in the direction of the concert.

When she was found to be missing, all of her belongings were still in her room. She was never seen again.

## Aftermath

### Initial Aftermath

Donna was the second of many young women to go missing in the area. All of the cases were believed to be connected, and were believed to have been committed by a man in a sling, who went by the name "Ted," as this man was seen in the area at the time of some of the disappearances.

### Possible Discovery of Remains

On August 29, 1978, two fishermen walking on Highway 7 southwest of Eatonville, Washington, discovered a human skull on the foothills of Mount Rainier. Subsequent searches uncovered more remains, clothing, and hair. One of the items found was a multi-colored shirt, one similar to what Donna was last seen wearing. The remains were not believed to be Donna's, as they believed they were dumped there after 1974.

In 1996, the investigation into the remains was revived, due to a 1996 article in *The News Tribune* about three sets of remains, including the ones found in 1978. Two of the skeletons were dumped in the Tacoma landfill in the late 70s and early 80s, but it's unknown what became of the Eatonville remains.

After examining the dental records associated with the remains, eight possible matches, including Donna, were brought to police attention. A forensic dentist was able to rule out all of the matches, apart from Donna. This was not enough to identify her, so she remained a missing person, despite her case being revived for a shirt time.

### Identification of Killer

The killer would later be identified as Ted Bundy, who was first apprehended in 1975. He had been a suspect in the Washington and Oregon murders for a while, but there was no substantial evidence against him. He escaped in late December 1977, and murdered three women in Florida. He was apprehended for the final time on February 15, 1978.

He confessed to Donna's abduction, presumed rape, and murder, though he gave differing accounts to where he dumped her body. First, he claimed he dumped her remains "in the mountains," then he claimed they were in the Cascades, and finally he claimed her remains were discovered in March 1975 on Taylor Mountain, like most of the other Washington and Oregon victims. He also claimed to have burned Donna's skull in his girlfriend's fireplace.

Bundy was executed on January 24, 1989.

## Sources

* Donna Manson at *NamUs*
* Donna Manson at the *Doe Network*
* Donna Manson at the *Charley Project*
* Donna Manson at *Find a Grave*