Eleanor Louise Cowell was born on September 21, 1924, in the United States. Her parents, Samuel and Eleanor Cowell, raised her with love and care. Little did they know that their daughter would later become known as the mother of one of the most notorious serial killers in history.
When Eleanor gave birth to her son, Ted Bundy, on November 24, 1946, she was unwed. In those times, having a child out of wedlock carried a heavy stigma, and Eleanor made the difficult decision to have her son raised by her father. As a result, Ted grew up believing that his grandfather was his father and that Eleanor was his sister.
Despite the challenges she faced as a single mother, Eleanor did her best to provide for her son. In 1950, she and Ted moved to Tacoma, Washington, to live with her uncle. It was there that she met and married John Bundy, who would later adopt Ted and give him his last name.
Throughout Ted's childhood and into his adult years, Eleanor always believed in her son's innocence. Even as he was charged with and convicted of numerous heinous crimes, Eleanor remained steadfast in her belief that Ted was not guilty. She stood by him until her death in 2012, never wavering in her love for him.
Despite her unwavering support for Ted, Eleanor's family life was marked by tragedy. She had four children in total, but her relationship with Ted strained her relationships with her other children. The shadow of Ted's crimes loomed large over the family, causing rifts that were never fully healed.
Eleanor Louise Cowell's story is one of love, sacrifice, and tragedy. As the mother of Ted Bundy, she bore the weight of his crimes while holding onto the belief in his innocence. Her legacy is a complicated one, but it serves as a reminder of the complexities of family relationships and the power of a mother's love.
Years after her death, Eleanor's story was immortalized on the big screen in the 2019 biopic Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, with Zac Efron portraying Ted Bundy. Her role in Ted's life and the impact of his crimes continue to fascinate and haunt the public imagination.