The Ultimate “You Had One Job” Moment: How an Amarillo School Accidentally Featured Ted Bundy

Some things happen in Amarillo that make you smile and then wonder how. Things that need to be remembered because they're something that is just so funny.

Luckily, this is a gem that popped up in my Facebook memories from back in 2017, so I feel like the Statute of Limitations has passed on embarrassment for whoever made this mistake.

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The Flyer Reveal: A "Nice Looking" Young Man?

Or maybe it wasn't a mistake. If not, then kudos to whoever had the sense of humor to let this happen. I’ve always had a morbid fascination with true crime and the world of serial killers. A lot of people do.

Recognized Instantly: The True Crime Fan's Perspective

Heck, there are whole books, TV stations, movies, whatever, all about serial killers, so it is a thing. Back in 2017, when I went to lunch with some friends, they never expected this conversation to play out like this.

They showed me the current, at the time, Red Ribbon Week flyer for Arden Road Elementary. One of their kids went there. I looked at it and right away knew what they were trying to show me. They pointed to one photo and wanted to know what I thought.

Read More: That Guy Next to You in Amarillo Could Be a Serial Killer

My response was "He is my favorite". They cut me off right there and said, "No, you don't know who that is." My response was, "Yes, he is my favorite serial killer." Yes, I did know who they featured on the Red Ribbon Flyer.

The photo on Friday, for "Dress for Success," was Ted Bundy's senior photo. Who, yes, is my favorite serial killer? Has been since I watched movies, read books, and followed his execution back in 1989. I was well-versed in the case; I’d seen that specific senior photo countless times over the years and recognized him instantly.

The "Dress for Success" Disaster: How It Happened

How did that become the featured photo for Arden Road Elementary's "Dress for Success" Day? The parent did call, and they were given an apology and told that it was a mistake. An employee had done a search for high school photos, and that was the one they chose.

Why the Ted Bundy Senior Photo Still Haunts the Internet

I don't know how many times over the years I have tried that exact search and never got the Ted Bundy Senior photo as a result. I am humored by the fact that it happened. I love it when it pops up on my Facebook feed. I always get a good laugh.

So here is to the year that Arden Road Elementary used Ted Bundy as their "Dress for Success" example.