Theodore Kaczynski

Starting out as an apparent terrorist bombing, the Unabomber case became the longest (nearly 18 years), largest, and most expensive manhunt in American history. Between 1978 and 1996, the Unabomber attracted worldwide attention, becoming the subject of radio talk shows, television documentaries, and hundreds of newspaper articles. A $1 million reward was offered for information leading to the arrest of the elusive killer. Code-named “UNABOMBER” because of the universities and airlines he targeted in his earlier bombings, the elusive offender rose from relatively obscure criminal status to national recognition. In all, the Unabomber killed three persons (two in California and one in New Jersey) and injured 23 others, his attacks spanning nine states. Several victims were university professors or people directly related to technology.

By 1996, more than 100 agents from the FBI, the U.S. Postal Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms were working together as the Unabomber Task Force, with the assistance of local and state law enforcement. This was the third and largest such task force to be assembled in history. After staging his first attack in Chicago in 1978, the Unabomber appeared to relocate and was thought to be living in northern California, possibly near Sacramento or San Francisco. Eight of the 16 bombings occurred either in northern California or from bombs mailed from that area. Starting in 1993, all his letters and bombs had been mailed from the San Francisco Bay area. The following list chronicles the Unabomber attacks.

[Page 268]Several physical and psychological profiles were constructed around the Unabomber. The task force believed, for example, that he was a white male, probably in his early to mid- to late forties. He was seen once in 1987 by a secretary as he hand-delivered a bomb. Only in the latter years of his criminal career did the Unabomber begin to communicate with the public. He increasingly expressed his disdain for law enforcement, while at the same time appearing to enjoy taunting and challenging them. Although such occurrences are rare, some serial killers, such as the Unabomber and the “Zodiac Killer,” from San Francisco, have enjoyed matching wits with law enforcement.

The Unabomber had a history of sending bombs and then remaining silent for periods of time. One hiatus lasted 6 years. His bomb-making skills improved markedly in sophistication. The devices were pipe bombs with antimovement or antiopening firing switches. He evolved from using smokeless powders to a mixture of ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder and took time to handcraft his devices, using wood and metal components.

The bomber claimed to be part of a clandestine organization called the “Freedom Club.” He signed his letters with the initials “FC” and also carefully inscribed “FC” on his bombs. In 1995, he mailed a 35,000-word “manifesto” to the Washington Post and New York Times, threatening that if his work wasn't published, the bombings would continue. The manifesto was a redundant diatribe of denunciations against technology, advocating the dismantling of industrial technology and the redistribution of human society. The author stated that the evils of technology would eventually destroy our society and he felt it was his role to bring public attention to the pending doom. He believed that killing a few people to get the public's attention was completely justifiable. The task force, along with the media, faced a difficult dilemma: Should they choose not to be held hostage by this killer and run the risk of another attack, or submit to his demands in order to perhaps save lives and avoid another bombing? To spare another attack and in hopes that someone in the community might recognize the writing, the Washington Post published the manifesto. The manifesto was also made available on the Internet.

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