Ted Bundy's Murderous Mysteries

by Kevin Sullivan

Georgann Hawkins

  What follows are reports and information pertaining to the abduction and murder of Gerogann Hawkins. During the writing of my main Bundy book, The Bundy Murders: A Comprehensive History, I spoke with individuals who had been friends of the victims, and very often, they did not want to talk or be a part of the project. Occasionally, they would tell of their experiences, but did so off the record, which meant that I was not to reproduce what they’d told me for the printed page, and I always adhered to their wishes. And there have been occasions where friends of the victims did speak openly with me for the record, and I remain grateful for such assistance. Occasionally, folks would not learn of me until after the publication of The Bundy Murders, and when they did contact me, they were, of course, willing to talk. Yet even here (as in the case of Lorraine Fargo) they found it difficult to discuss what had happened, even after all these years, and wondered if dredging up these terrible memories was the correct thing to do. Therefore, I have always appreciated any efforts they have made to share their stories with me.

  One individual who did return my call concerning the Georgann Hawkins abduction was Duane Covey. Incidentally, Duane was the last person to speak with Georgann Hawkins, literally only minutes before Bundy encountered her. And as with most of the others, Duane did not want to be interviewed about those events, so when we finally spoke, I kept my questions very brief, and basically asked him to confirm a couple of things that he’d told a reporter for The Seattle Times, and he confirmed that those statements were correct. As such, I’m going to begin this additional look at Georgann’s abduction and murder from the record. And I will complete it with some quotes from an article published in Arizona that contains the thoughts and feelings of Georgann Hawkins’ mother. First, however, a preface of sorts from me:

  The evening of June 11, 1974, was a nice one, with pleasant temperatures, and a clear night sky. Georgann Hawkins, a first-year student at the University of Washington, was looking forward to closing out what had turned out to be a good freshman year for her. She was excited about getting back home to her family in Tacoma. She was just starting to enjoy her life as a young adult, a time for her to experience life and make wise choices, as she began her trek into full adulthood. She had plans for her future.

  Georgann was also aware that a number of young women had disappeared from the area, and she was doing everything she knew to do to keep herself safe. So, when she took a break, from studying for a Spanish test scheduled for the next day, to go to a party, she left her sorority house on Greek Row with a friend, planning to return for more study time in just a couple of hours. Later, on her way back, she stopped at her boyfriend’s fraternity house, and visited with him for about thirty minutes. I covered the below sequence of events in my book, The Bundy Murders.

  For the next thirty minutes she visited with Marvin, the conversation apparently consisting of small talk and the upcoming test. After a brief kiss, George, as she was called by friends, walked out the back door and stepped into the alley. It was around 1:00 a.m. on June 11. Duane Covey, whose second-floor room faced the alleyway, heard the slamming of the back door and jumped up just in time to see Georgann leaving. Covey called out to her, and the two spent the next five minutes chatting, mostly about her Spanish test, now only hours away. As they talked, Covey said they could hear someone laughing somewhere down the ally, and Georgann would occasionally glance in that direction. The two friends bid farewell to each other in Spanish, and Georgann Hawkins left to continue the short walk to her residence. Covey watched her, he said, for about forty feet, as she continued south toward the sorority house, before losing sight of her in the darkness. Naturally, he then turned away from his window. As Bundy strolled very slowly up the alley, he saw a door open and a woman emerge. He heard the faint sound of the door shutting and he watched as she began walking in his direction, only to stop. As she turned back around, he knew from the angle of her head that she was talking to someone in the window. With anticipation, he watched and listened, his mind already beginning to seize the opportunity in the making, to sense that he would soon have her, as that subtle rush of sexual arousal, began coursing through his being. As she said goodnight and then resumed what would have been a very brief walk to her place, she noticed the lone individual hobbling his way in her direction.

  Had Covey continued standing at the window for another minute or so, he would have seen Georgann re-emerge from the darkness holding a briefcase and walking beside a seemingly disabled man hobbling on crutches, sporting a leg cast. They would, in fact, pass just below Covey’s window as they ambled their way up the alley to 47th, where they crossed the street, turned right on the sidewalk, took a quick left at the corner, continuing north on 17th for about half a block. Just as they were about to pass a makeshift parking lot, unpaved and without proper lighting, the injured man motioned that his car was in the lot. His vehicle, a light brown VW Beetle, was the only one in sight. Unlike Greek Row, this area was completely devoid of human activity.

  This lie of disability he presented worked perfectly on Georgann, who must have found the pitiful form approaching her completely non-threatening. So when he asked for help with his briefcase she didn’t think twice about it. It just seemed the right thing to do. She could help him, she believed, and in a few minutes be on her way. There was still plenty of time to conquer the Spanish language.

  Approaching the car, he guided her from behind to the passenger side door. It is unknown if the car was unlocked (probably not), or whether she unlocked it at his request. He may even have turned the key himself and then stepped back, giving Georgann room to open the door; still, the exact sequence of events here is a mystery. But what happened next is not. As Georgann stayed focused on the task at hand, he reached underneath the rear of his car for the crowbar he’d placed there earlier, and with one lightning-quick movement, he struck her in the skull, knocking her out cold.

  What follows is from the official report and it contains the statement from Marvin Gellatly, Georgann’s boyfriend, who was the second-to-last person to speak with her prior to her disappearance:

  June 12, 1974, 2000 hrs.

  Received a call from a Marv Gellatly LA2-7211. Gellatly states that he is a friend of the Hawkins girl and has been out with her on several occasions. He states that she was of high morals and never did anything with him other than drink beer. Gellatly also stated that the Hawkins girl carried some ID that belonged to another woman. He did not know where she had gotten it, but stated the Hawkins girl carried it with her all the time. She used it for getting into taverns and such. Gellatly he had looked thru the Hawkins girl’s billfold several times and this was usually the only ID he ever saw in her wallet.

  Gellatly states that he does not remember the name on the ID, but will attempt to find out what it is and call it in. To the best of his recollection he thinks the first name was Marsha, with a birth date making her twenty-three years of age.

  Gellatly also stated that another girl by the name of Debbie West, who had been living in a sorority house in the district, has seen this suspect with the white/black two-door Cadillac hanging around in the district watching various houses. West told Gellatly that she would recognize the suspect in a second, as they have observed him on several occasions and had turned out the lights in the house and watched him. She claims he wears a silver colored watch on his left wrist, wears colored glasses, black hair, with sideburns, smokes cigars, and is probably in his late 40s.

  West’s parents have made her move home and she can probably be contacted at the phone number given.

  The writer of the following report makes numerous mistakes by referring to a sorority house as either a fraternity or frat house. After several pages, someone came behind him and made the corrections from frat to sorority in black pen ink on this typed-up report. Therefore, the location will be inconsistently referred to as both a fraternity and a sorority, but both are referring to the victim’s sorority house. />
  SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT

  MISSING PERSON: Hawkins, Georgann

  Reporting Person: Bates, Mary House Mother

  Last Seen By: Covey, Duane

  Last seen by Covey, Duane (witness) in the alley behind Greek Row at approximately 0110 hours 6-11-74. Witness was talking to victim at this time and victim told witness that she was going back to the house to study.

  6-12-74 0800 hours; Assigned case for further investigation from Sgt. Beeson, to work in conjunction with Det. Jelberg, Missing Persons bureau.

  On becoming familiar with the missing person report, the report states that victim did live in residence at 5521 17th Avenue NE. and when last seen by witness Covey, Duane, was in the alley approx. 1 block from residence. Looking at census map, this is location due west and north from victim residence.

  Also check with census map reveals that victim’s residence is approx. 4 blocks south from where Healy was living and approx. 4 blocks east of the Healy home. This would place the radius of approx. a 5 block radius.

  Det. Jelberg has contacted the parents who live 10422 Delwood Drive SW, Tacoma, Wash given phone number as JU8 XXXX and business phone as GR 2 XXXX Tacoma, Wash. The father, Mr. Hawkins states that his wife will be at home all day this date, and further contact can be made with her or him at his place of business. In interviewing the father, Mr. Hawkins this date, he stated the victim talked to her mother on Monday 6-10-74 and appeared to be in very good spirits and was talking about taking the final exams at the U of W. Mr. Hawkins stated he will obtain dental charts of victim and will either bring them to the office or mail them.

  Called the frat. house and they stated they have not seen victim since time of reporting. Det. Jelberg to Communications requesting all information be given to units on the missing victim.

  6-12-74 0810 hours. Miss Laura Heffron of 4521 17th Avenue NE, roommate of victim, called stating she had information which detectives might be interested in pertaining to a suspicious vehicle seen in the area prior to victim’s attempt to return home. Advised her that we would be out as soon as possible this date to talk to her.

  6-12-74 0845 hours: Detectives along with Sgt. Beeson to 4521 17th Avenue NE. Checked the alley behind above address, and found that the sorority house where victim lived is approx. ¾ of a block south of NE 47th (BETA Frat house 1617 NE 47th). Upon our arrival, uniformed officers arrived and sealed off alley waiting for Mr. Ishii and his lab crew to arrive for a methodical search of the alley.

  Sometime after the securing of the alley was accomplished, and after an additional swarm of police descended upon the area, Ted Bundy rode his bicycle through the area to retrieve from the parking lot the earrings that flew off Georgann’s ears after he’d struck her with the crowbar, as well as the one shoe that had come off her foot at the same time. Peddling through the area, Bundy had an up-close and too personal look at the detectives and patrolmen who were working the alley and the surrounding area. Apparently, they hadn’t yet ventured one block away to the parking lot where Georgann was assaulted and rendered unconscious. Had the police spotted a single woman’s shoe lying in the lot, they’d have cordoned off the area as a potential crime scene. Once again, however, luck had gone Bundy’s way and, soon after picking up the clog shoe and earrings, he again left the area.

  The report continues:

  0900 hours: Detectives to room #8 victim’s room and found a Miss Laura Heffron who stated that she was the roommate of the victim. At this time numerous ladies (residents) of the frat (Author’s note: there he goes again, obviously not understanding the difference between a sorority house and a fraternity house) house (Kappa Alpha Thema) appeared at the room. At this time detectives requested from House Mother Mary Bates if there was an area where we could converse with the girls. We were taken to a visiting room on main floor lobby. On talking to girls whose names will appear in order of conversation, the following was obtained:

  Laura Heffron: She states that she and victim were freshman at the U of W, and when she saw victim on evening prior to incident, the victim was wearing the following: navy blue good quality slacks which buttoned on the left side. These slacks were supposed to have four blue buttons but Laura stated that victim had only one button left and with this she went back to her room and obtained one of the buttons that was missing. White T-shirt halter top with collar. This was tied in the back and the back was bareless (sic). Red, white, and blue long sleeved shirt. This was not tucked into victim’s slacks but was tied by the tails in the front. Skin-toned or light tan Jack purse (leather) with red stains on it. The purse supposedly contains the following items, in a large purple wallet:

  U of W ID card with photo

  WSOL (info from Major Report) HA WK IG 453NO

  Checkbook from Sea 1st Bank, Lakewood Branch, Tacoma, Washington

  Other contents in JACK purse:

  One bottle Heaven Scent perfume approx. 5” tall and ½” in diameter

  One small brush with black bristles

  One small jar of Vaseline

  Laura further stated that victim’s habits were of a normal pattern. That whenever she went out she would always let some Frat girl know where she was going and would always leave a telephone number. When asked if the victim was an indulgent of alcohol, she stated that she drank beer of any type, and that when she drank hard liquor it normally was Vodka mixed with a Tom Collins mix. She never seemed to get tipsy but always maintained her demeanor. Laura also stated that the victim was supposed to be going home to her parents in Tacoma on 6-13-74 (this would be upon completion of exams). Laura was then asked pertaining to any jewelry victim was wearing. She relayed that victim was wearing a rectangular shaped ring on her middle left finger. The stone was a black onyx type, with a very small diamond inserted in center of ring. The band was of gold metal. On the victim’s right ring finger was a gold band ring with a small pearl inserted at the top. Victim was not wearing any wristwatch, and according to Laura, the victim’s eyesight was not the best and she normally wore glasses or contact lenses. These the victim did not have with her when she disappeared. They were still in room #8 this date. Victim’s teeth were good but not solid white. She had very good body stature, and the last thing recalled was that victim did have freckles about her nose. Her hair length is shorter than the photo attached to this case.

  0930 hours. Talked to another lady who resides at the sorority (corrected again) house with the victim, and given name is Jennifer Roberts, also a freshman at the U of W. Jennifer Roberts states habits and description are identical to what Laura describes. Jennifer stated that on June 10, 1974, she and victim and some other girls went to a frat party located around 50th NE. She states that Georgann had three beers while at the party and when they left the party approx. 0030 hours on 6-11-74 she and victim walked to the corner of NE 47th and 17 NE, where victim stated she was going to stop in at the Beta Fraternity House and see her boyfriend Marvin Bruce Gellatly WM 22, 1617 NE 47th. Jennifer states the victim told her to walk on down to their Frat (sorority) house, and, when she arrived, for her to yell back that everything was okay. Jennifer states that she did this, and stated upon arriving at the front of her house, she yelled back to the victim, and the victim in turn yelled back at her that all was okay. This was the last she seen (sic) of the victim. Jennifer then showed detectives the back door and stated that this door is always locked in the afternoon, the majority of traffic within the house is from the front door. She also mentions that victim had seeing (eye) trouble and could not see at distances.

  1000 Hours: Detectives talked to Marvin Bruce Gellatly WM 22 given address as 1617 NE 47th, LA 2 7211, home address away from U of W: 1220 1st Street, Wenatchee, Wash. Gellatly states he and victim have been going steady for the past quarter approx. three mos. That she did arrive at his roommate’s Jeff Eckman’s room at approx. 0030 hours 6-11-74 and that she sat and talked to him for approx. ½ hour. The conversation was of normal tone, school wo
rk, etc. After she finished talking, she stated that she had to be going home (four houses south of the Beta House). Gellatly stated he does not know whether she went out the front door or the back, but figured she went out the front.

  1000 hours: This was the last time he seen (sic) victim, as she stated she had to do some serious studying for Spanish exam this date. Gellatly is very concerned and became very cooperative with investigators. His description of clothing is almost identical to others.

  1000 Hours: Det. Cuthill talked to Duane Covey 1617 NE. 47th BETA HOUSE, and resides on second floor facing the alley of the above house.

  At approx. 0115 hours, June 11, 1974, Covey states he was sitting in his room and heard the back door slam, and when he approached the window to see who it was, he saw the victim heading south down the alley, and he asked her where she was going, and she stated she was going home to study her Spanish. Covey states they talked for approx. five minutes. They said their goodbyes in Spanish and the last he seen (sic) of victim, was she was walking down the alley southbound. He heard no cries nor screams, and has not seen victim since.

  Note: In talking to girls and men about the Frat houses, they all appear to have the same description of the victim as far as demeanor goes. She was outgoing in conversation, very friendly with all concerned, and would not go out with any person unless she knew the person personally. Girls state that she went out on a blind date last Friday with a WM by name of Greg Knowles, and that he has since left school as his exams are finished, giving telephone number as 858 – XXXX Gig Harbor Washington. Greg is supposed to have been living at the Pheta house on 21st and 47th.

  The following is a letter sent to Det. Jelberg by Georgann’s parents. It also contained a draft of a missing person’s bulletin for Georgann which they had prepared.

  June 20, 1974

  Det. G. Jelberg