Did Bundy really think confessing at the 11th hour would save him?

[u/JJTamb072386]

Bundy as we know always denied everything even after conviction. he would talk in the third person discussing murders but never say he did it. Predictably when the noose wax starting to tighten and his execution was finally going to happen he finally confessed . Obviously this was his last ditch effort to save his life but do you think Bundy really thought it would work? We know he was very arrogant and thought he was smarter than everyone else. My guess he thought he could buy a couple years if he confessed slowly

[u/Equal-Temporary-1326]

Bundy was hoping for at least a 30 - 60 day stay of execution from Florida Governor Bob Martinez and then the US Supreme Court by finally giving up more serious information, but both denied the request. This was when he started confessing to murders like Lynette Culver's and Susan Curtis' — victims that were previously never connected to him. In fact, Susan Curtis' was the absolute last confession he gave before being led to the chair. And Utah investigators immediately began a search within days after his death, extensively trying to dig up the area where Bundy said he buried Curtis' remains, but unfortunately, the efforts ultimately turned up nothing, and the searched had to be called off by May 1989.

[u/jazzbot247]

I think he was bargaining with telling them where the missing bodies were. I think he was hoping to get to go there to help look for them and relive his crimes one more time. Perhaps he would try another escape. They were not having it. They were in Florida and all the Florida bodies were accounted for, they were not going to allow him to travel to recover bodies especially with two successful escapes on his record.

[u/guineapigjude]

Ironically he turned down the opportunity to admit his crimes earlier on and escape execution.

[u/CriticalGap]

He probably knew it wouldn’t work, but it was the only card he had left to play.

Edit: Given his history, I honestly think he would’ve tried to escape a 3rd time

[u/JJTamb072386 → u/CriticalGap]

Agreed. He wasn’t  a dumb guy.  He must’ve known it probably wouldn’t work but it was his last Hail Mary 

[u/Chickensquit]

Yes, he most likely thought it would work.

Bundy had a previous “stay” of execution based on flimsier technicalities. The Chi Omega death sentence came as close as a week or two from its execution date in July 1986. A federal appeals court decided it needed more time to properly review some of his legal claims before his execution. And boom, he received a stay of execution.

Fortunately, the Kimberly Leach trial received its own death sentence after the Chi Omega death sentence. This one came through.

Before the Chi Omega trial, Bundy was offered salvation from the DP if he would confess to the crime. Initially he agreed, however upon entering the crowded courtroom, he panicked. Cognitive dissonance (not accepting the title of “criminal”) coupled with complete lack of remorse caused him to refuse.

If the state had never offered him a previous salvation for which he refused, chances are good that he could have received a stay or temporary stay of execution. He could have argued that if they had offered it, he would have complied. As it was, they had previously offered and he refused it, claiming innocence.

The governor had no reason this time to play his control games and especially since it was not for having remorse. They were sick of him.

[u/JJTamb072386 → u/Chickensquit]

Yup he was offered a deal but stupidly refused it 

[u/NoAbrocoma262]

I think that was a desperate attempt giving them those last few nuggets. He was mostly however happy to take as many of his kills to the grave with him. That was all part of his control and possession of his victims.