In the 1970's Ted Bundy is believed to have murdered dozens of women and girls all across the country.
He decapitated at least 12 of his victims, escaped twice from jail, and killed even more women while on the run.
His own attorney reportedly called him "the definition of heartless evil."
Bundy was sentenced to death and died in a Florida electric chair in 1989, but before he was executed, he confessed to killing some thirty people, including two right here in Idaho.
Back then, Russ Reneau was a seasoned investigator with the Idaho Attorney General's office.
"It was the first time I've ever been invited by a serial killer himself to come talk with him," said Reneau.
Reneau flew to Florida and sat down with Bundy at the prison where he was being held.
"It was clear that he was fatigued. I saw signs of stress and, through all of that, he was polite and actually amiable," said Reneau.
Bundy gave precise details on how he raped and murdered twelve-year-old Lynette Culver of Pocatello fourteen years earlier, details police say on her killer would have known.
"In spite of his friendly persona, it was clear to me that we were dealing with an evil, a truly evil man," explained Reneau.
Bundy also claimed he murdered a woman outside Boise he found hitchhiking along a highway, but only gave sketchy information about the killing.
No missing person report matched his supposed victim, nor was any body ever found.
"Did he fabricate it? I'm not sure, or was he simply withholding information in the hopes that we would extend his life? I've never been able to resolve that in my mind over the years," said Reneau.
Still, the interview gave Reneau a chilling insight into the mind of a deceiving, sadistic, sociopath.
"I was expecting someone that I could read better," said Reneau. "He was not nervous at all during the interview I had with him, much different from any other homicide suspect I've ever interviewed."
In the end with the Lynette Culver murder, Reneau says he believes Bundy actually committed the crime.
"I feel like what we came away from out of that interview was able to bring closure to one Idaho family. That is always a good outcome."
Reneau has been retired for a number of years.
He says he watched news coverage of Bundy's execution on television but has not pretty much put the case behind him.
