Work : New Career 1967 (assistant professor)
Work : Fired/Laid off/Quit 1969 (left the university)
Crime : Homicide Perpetration 1985 (with a bomb)
Crime : Arrest 3 April 1996 (taken into custody) chart Placidus Equal_H.
Social : Institutionalized - prison, hospital 3 April 1996 (imprisoned upon arrest) chart Placidus Equal_H.
Crime : Trial dates 22 January 1998 (pled guilty) chart Placidus Equal_H.
American terrorist, called the Unabomber. He was taken into custody on April 3, 1996 with overwhelming evidence of his guilt. Kaczynski was a gifted child but was shy and aloof. As an infant, he was hospitalized for several weeks and the hospital staff discouraged the parents from visiting their child and prevented them from holding him in their rare visits. He reportedly was never the same. He excelled in school, skipping two grades and graduating at age 16. He obtained his bachelors degree from Harvard University in 1962, with a major in mathematics, later earning his masters and Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Michigan. He landed a fellowship grant to conduct research and published several papers. In 1967, he landed an assistant professors position with the University of California at Berkeley. He resigned suddenly and without explanation in 1969, moving to a remote shack, living on very little, obtaining odd jobs when he needed money, and receiving a bit of financial support from his family. In May 1978, a bomb was sent to a professor at Northwestern University. A security guard opened it and sustained minor injuries. Several bombs were sent by mail to others but did not cause much injury until December 11, 1985 when a computer store owner was killed. In 1987 a similar incident occurred and he was spotted wearing a hooded sweatshirt but not identified though sketches appeared in major newspapers. On June 24, 1993 a Yale University computer science professor with a distinguished reputation was sent a bomb and was injured when it exploded. The person who was then called the Unabomber sent a letter to the New York Times proclaiming that an anarchist group was responsible. Additional people were killed by these bombs on December 10, 1994 and on April 24, 1995, with Kaczynski mailing several letters to former victims, which became known as the "Manifesto." The still unidentified Kaczynski demanded that this 35,000-word "Manifesto" were printed in the newspapers, he would quit his bombing campaign. The document, arguing that technological progress was harmful and must be stopped" was published in the New York Times and Washington Post in September 1995. http://partners.nytimes.com/library/national/unabom-manifesto-1.html Kaczynskis younger brother David recognized the writing style and ideas and after an anguished debate with himself, reported his brother to the police. The unabomber was arrested on April 3, 1996 at his cabin in a remote part of Montana. Lawyers tried to convince him to use the insanity plea, and a psychologist diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia but Kaczynski refused to plead insanity. He pled guilty on January 22, 1998 to avoid the death penalty. Although he later retracted his guilty plea, he was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment with no hope of appeal. Kaczynski has been an active writer in prison. The Labadie Collection, part of the University of Michigans Special Collections Library, houses Kaczynskis correspondence from over 400 people since his arrest in April 1996, including carbon copy replies, legal documents, publications, and clippings. The names of most correspondents will be kept sealed until 2049. Kaczynski has also been battling in federal court in Northern California over the auction of his journals and other correspondence. On January 10, 2009, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco rejected Kaczynskis arguments that the goveRead less
Born: May 22, 1942, Chicago, United States
Theodore John Kaczynski, widely known as the "Unabomber," is an American domestic terrorist and former mathematics professor. He is infamous for his nationwide mail bombing campaign targeting individuals involved with modern technology. Kaczynski was born in Chicago and exhibited prodigious academic abilities, attending Harvard University at the age of 16. He later earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Michigan.
Kaczynski's activities spanned from 1978 to 1995, during which he mailed or hand-delivered a series of bombs that killed three people and injured 23. His actions were driven by a belief that technology was eroding human freedom. In 1995, he sent a manifesto titled "Industrial Society and Its Future" to major newspapers, which led to his identification and capture in 1996.
In 1998, Kaczynski was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to all charges. He is currently serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Complex in Florence, Colorado.
Kaczynski's manifesto has been the subject of extensive analysis and debate. The document critiques the industrial system and advocates for a return to a more primitive lifestyle. His life and crimes have been explored in various documentaries, books, and films, contributing to ongoing discussions about the impact of technology on society.
There are no recent projects associated with Ted Kaczynski due to his imprisonment. However, his writings continue to be discussed in academic and activist circles. Some view him as a cautionary figure highlighting the dangers of technological advancement, while others condemn his violent methods.
Ted Kaczynski does not have a direct presence on social media platforms. However, discussions about his life and ideology can be found in various forums and online communities where both critics and supporters engage in debates about his legacy.
Kaczynski's actions and writings have left a complex legacy. While his violent acts are universally condemned, his critiques of modern technology continue to resonate with some who are concerned about the unchecked growth of industrial society. His life serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of radical ideologies.