The Unabomber Essay

Gabriel Collado Mr. Boruch Criminal Justice April 24, 2010 The Unabomber Ted Kaczynski is considered to be an evil mastermind who killed not for sadistic pleasure, but for a physiological cause. I chose this case, because I wanted to understand, why and how the minds geniuses becomes corrupt and forces them to act in an aggressive psychopathic manner. Kaczynski was born in Chicago Illinois, in 1942. His childhood has very disturbing details. When he was 9 months old, Kaczynski was hospitalized with a sever skin rash called Urticaria.

No visitors were allowed, and little Ted was isolated for six months, where he laid in bed away from human contact. His mother testifies that Ted was never the same after that time in his life. He became very shy and reacted very strange around others. At the age of 10, he scored a 167 on an IQ test. Considering genius levels begin at 140 and above, Kaczynski was at a whole new level even at a young age. He was then allowed to skip a grade. There he was bullied by other children. He became afraid of people, and buildings, and grew into a loner isolated from others. In 1958, Ted Kaczynski enrolled at Harvard University at the age of 16.

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There he volunteered in a physiological experiment (mind control) where became a subject. Dr. Henry Murray was in charge of the experiment, sponsored by the CIA. The objective of the experiment was to see their emotional strengths. Their heart rates were measured, and so were their breathing. Ted graduated from Harvard in 1962, and enrolled in the University of Michigan to earn a PHD. In the late 1967, the University of California- Berkeley, recruited Kaczynski as an assistant professor. Two years later, he all of a sudden resigned from his position in 1969, and in 1971, he began to live with his parents in Illinois.

Two years later, he moved again to live in a cabin in the wilderness of Lincoln, Montana. There he survived on 300 dollars a year in a cabin with no electricity, or running water. The fist bomb he made was sent to the Northwestern University to an engineering professor. There, a campus policeman opened the package, and was severely injured. For 9 years, bombs arrived at other universities and businesses, where more than 24 were victims. Some were killed and some were severely injured. Ted Kaczynski was very cautious with how he performed his crimes. He took serious measures to cover the evidence.

On some cases, he lined his shoes with smaller soles, so that his shoe prints could not be identified. His bombs were made out of homemade and stolen material. Therefore they were untraceable. He even recorded all of his moves with codes, so that if they were found, it was not understandable. In 1987, there was a moment of silence. Many thought that the Unabomber was dead or probably blew himself up. Investigators did noticed however some connections to some of the bombs. One of the victim’s last names was wood, and another worked for a forestry group. Each bomb was also placed in a wooden box.

Ted Kaczynski was eventually caught. His brother David Kaczynski believed that the Unabomber was his brother, and reported it to the authorities. Investigators analyzed his cabin for 12 days, and found that he bombed not for sadistic pleasure, but for a physiological cause. He wrote a 65 page proclamation that called for the destruction of modern life. He criticized scientists who had power and fought for themselves passively. However, ironically, he was describing himself. Many people believe, that Ted Kaczynski was angry with the world for not accepting him, and gained power by becoming the Unabomber.

Ted Kaczynski was charged for killing three people, and injuring eleven. He pleaded guilty to all of the accusations, and was sentenced to life in prison with no parole. The defense team, planned to use his sanity issue as an excuse to avoid the death penalty. However, Kaczynski wanted to focus his defense on his philosophy rather than on his sanity. The other plan was to ignore his sanity issue in the trial phase, but introduce it the sentencing phase to avoid the death penalty. The trial began on November 12th 1997. The defense wanted to try him for a psychological testing, but Kaczynski refused.

He stopped the trial to request another attorney. The jury was dismissed for two days to consider the request. Kaczynski requested to have celebrity lawyer Tony Serra, but the judge declared it as inappropriate. The trial would then proceed with the original defense of January 8th. He then stopped the trial once more to request if he can represent himself. Judge Burrell agreed, with the intention to allow Kaczynski to prove his insanity. Kaczynski agreed to a mental illness exam by a health expert. He attempted to hang himself in his underwear in his cell, that previous night.

The court asked Kaczynski how does he plea to the charges in counts 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10 of the indictment in this case and Counts 1,2, and 3 of the indictment in the District of New Jersey case: Guilty or not guilty? Kaczynski answered guilty, and pleaded guilty to thirteen counts for attacks in three states that killed three and injured two. Kaczynski would serve life in prison with no parole, and was excused from the potential death sentence. The final sentencing took place on May 4th 1998. Kaczynski complained that the prosecutors had distorted his motives and beliefs.

He called their sentencing memorandum. Susan Mosser testified for her husband’s death, which took place on December 1994. She stated “Please, your honor, make this sentence bullet proof, bomb proof… Lock him so far down that when he does die, he’ll be closer to hell. That’s where the devil belongs! ” (http://www. trutv. com/library/crime/terrorists_spies/terrorists/kaczynski/14. html) His brother David Kaczinski was a hero. Ted Kaczinski often betrayed his brother. He borrowed money from him, often saying it was for medical reasons, to transport bombs throughout cities.

When David received the one million dollar reward for uncovering the bomber, half the money went to bomb victims and their families. Thanks to David, the damages caused by Ted were covered. Kaczynski received four consecutive life sentences in a maximum security jail. He was transferred to the Colorado Supermax facility, where he will spend the rest of his life, and turn into dust. Bibliography * http://www. trutv. com/library/crime/terrorists_spies/terrorists/kaczynski/15. html * http://www. unabomber. org/ * http://cunday. blogspot. com/2009/01/unabomber. html

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