Tragic: Debra Kent, 17, was reported missing in November 1974 after she left her parents at a Viewmont High School play to collect her brother at an ice skating rink in Salt Lake City

Ted Bundy did murder the schoolgirl Debra Kent police have confirmed, after human remains found at the site revealed by the notorious serial killer before his death were traced back to the 17-year-old.

Kent, 17, was reported missing in November 1974 after she left her parents at a Viewmont High School play to collect her brother at an ice skating rink in Salt Lake City.

Despite searches, the girl was never found until Bundy confessed to her murder 36 hours before his execution and gave police the location of her grisly death site.

Police were unable to find her entire remains with the exception of a human patella bone, meaning her case remained unsolved.

Developments in DNA testing helped them confirm that a bone belonged to the teenage girl, which was returned to the Kent family by Bountiful Police, thus closing a three-decade old cold case.

The renewed interest in the murderer following the success of the Netflix series 'Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes' prompted police to announce the discovery that was made more than three years ago.

In 2015, human remains were found in Fruit Heights, which allowed investigators to review missing person files and discover that in 1989 the Kent family were given a single bone that had been found where Bundy had said.

Despite searches, the girl was never found until Bundy (pictured) confessed to her murder 36 hours before his execution and gave police the location of her grisly death site

Police were unable to find her entire remains with the exception of a human patella bone, meaning her case remained unsolved. Developments in DNA testing helped them confirm that a bone belonged to the teenage girl, which was returned to the Kent family by Bountiful Police, thus closing a three-decade old cold case

While it is unclear as to why the bone was given to the family and not retained as evidence, investigators retrieved it once they discovered its existence and using modern DNA testing, were able to confirm it belonged to the schoolgirl.

'(Belva Kent) was very hesitant at first, but eventually she agreed, believing that it would be a good thing to know and have that confirmation,' Bountiful Police Sgt. Shane Alexander said.

'I sent the patella to the University of North Texas as well as the samples that were collected, and then they were able to determine that the patella matched the family DNA that was collected.'

Victims of the notorious serial killer Ted Bundy who confessed to 30 murders before his death are pictured

The family received an official death certificate and got the patella back. Alexander said the Kent family was grateful for the DNA confirmation.

'That was probably one of the biggest moments in my career,' he said.

'To finally be able to go to this family and say, 'kay, here it is, here's the scientific proof now, this is your daughter.'

'To me, that just was a tremendous feeling of accomplishment, knowing that I can help this family hopefully have closure and help them move on,' Alexander said.