The FBI's most wanted criminal in the United States

 

Young Theodore Kaczinski, at Harvard

 

John Theodore Kaczynski was a brilliant child born in Chicago in 1942 by a couple of Polish immigrants. While he was studying at the Evergreen Park Central, he was attributed a IQ of 170, that meant he had intellective capabilities far over the average and could “jump” a school year. This capability was expressed in Mathematics, so he enrolled early at Harvard University at the age of 16 and graduated at 20, becoming a university professor only 5 years later. Although he was one of the most brilliant mathematicians in academia, he suddenly left the professorship in 1969, without any apparent reason. 

Some reasons… 

He will say about the 7 years spent at University:

“My idiot Professor thought I wanted to stay at University, but he didn't understand that I was only working to save the money needed to buy a piece of land that would allow me to live surrounded by nature… Mathematics is a game and I didn't want to spend my life playing”

 He said to his family about the interruption of work:

“I didn't want to teach mathematics to engineers who would use it to ruin nature, as they were already doing in his beloved mountains”. 

His life after this crazy choice 

He began living in a cabin built up in the savage woods of Montana - kilometers far from all trace of technology - hunting to survive and warming himself with a wood stove that filled his new home with smoke: all paid for by the family who sent him money.

He is fighting against the industrial society, not through critics, but through a total rejection of the current social model. 

And through bombs.

 

Unabomber’s cabin from outside

Unabomber's cabin from inside

 

Bomber activity

From 1978 to 1995 he sent parcel bombs to people apparently without connection, but who had one thing in common: they always had to do with technology, with its uses and with everything that imposed (in his opinion) the mechanical dynamics of progress and the transformation of person in the gear of a social machine disconnected from nature.

Specifically, Unabomber became a federal case when he placed a homemade bomb in the hold of a Boeing 727, which however remained unexploded due to a technical defect.

16 bombs were attributed to him, with 3 victims and 23 injured.

For his actions and his rebellion against industrialization, he remembers the Luddite Riots that occurred in the 19th century against factories’ machinery. 

“The industrial society and its future” 

In 1995 he came out into the open, contacting the main American newspapers, asking them to publish an essay in exchange for the cessation of the attacks. After a long and difficult confrontation with the FBI, the New York Times and the Washington Post published the text, hoping that millions of readers could identify the author.

In this essay, titled “The industrial society and its future” (then called “Unabomber’s Manifesto”), he explained his ideas against the industrial society based on progress, where people are slaves of an alienating system.

 Kaczynski writes: “If we had never done anything violent and had submitted the present writings to a publisher, they probably would not have been accepted… In order to get our message before the public with some chance of making a lasting impression, we've had to kill people” (“Unabomber’s Manifesto”, par. 96).

The capture of Unabomber

 Soon Kaczynski’s brother recognized the style and the ideas of the essay, and, with the help of a private investigative team, denounced the criminal to the FBI.

Kaczynski was sentenced to life, and died in prison on 10 June 2023.

  

Theodore Kaczinski after the arrest

 

Where does the name of “Unabomber” come from?

It comes from a code name invented by the FBI, “UNABOM”, which comes from UNiversity and Airlines BOMber, and then it became “Unabomber” after the news spread out in newspapers. 

A “double” of Unabomber in Italy 

Unabomber's anonymous modus operandi made sure that an unknown criminal, who positioned many bombs in public places to hurt people, was named Unabomber. His attacks took place in the zones around Pordenone, Portogruaro and Lignano Sabbiadoro.

But there is an important difference: Kaczynski declared the aim of his actions, while this felonious didn't.

 Looking forward to writing a post about “Unabomber's Manifesto”!

 

Today’s Blogger 

I'm Luca Malagesi, a student in the 5th Liceo Classico. I have a deep passion for both mathematics and music, and I enjoy indulging in various hobbies, including reading books, listening to music, playing the flute, and even juggling with balls. I find great joy in sharing my interests with others, and I'm excited to contribute to this blog in the hopes of introducing you to new and beautiful discoveries.