Ted Kaczynski, America's infamous 'Unabomber,' dies at 81
Ted Kaczynski, the infamous terrorist known as the Unabomber who left a 17-year trail of death and destruction, died Saturday. He was 81.
Kaczynski passed away at a federal prison medical center in Butner, North Carolina, a spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Prisons told The Associated Press. He was pronounced dead around 8 a.m. after being found unresponsive in his cell, the spokesperson said. A cause of death was not revealed.
Prior to his transfer to North Carolina, Kaczynski had been serving a life sentence at ADX Florence, a federal supermax facility in Colorado considered the most secure prison in the U.S., since 1998. He was transferred out of ADX Florence in 2021 in order to receive medical treatment.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Born in Chicago, Kaczynski grew up as a child prodigy in mathematics, eventually earning an undergradute degree from Harvard University and a PhD from the University of Michigan.
In 1978, though, he began mailing a series of bombs as part of a terrorist plot against emerging technologies. Between 1978 and 1995, Kaczynski "mailed or hand-delivered a series of increasingly sophisticated bombs that killed three Americans and injured nearly two dozen more," according to the FBI's database page on the Unabomber. His actions "changed the way Americans mailed packages and boarded airplanes, even virtually shutting down air travel on the West Coast in July 1995," the AP noted.
The FBI began a massive manhunt for the Unabomber, but was unable to track him down for years. The New York Times and The Washington Post even agreed to publish Kaczynski's 35,000-page manifesto, "Industrial Society and Its Future," to try and lure him out of hiding. The FBI finally found Kaczynski hiding in a log cabin in Lincoln, Montana, in 1996. He agreed to plead guilty to murder rather than allow his lawyers to use an insanity plea.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other Hollywood news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
'A new era of hurricanes'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
How Britain's demographic is changing
A 50-year record population increase was fuelled by greater migration
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
The story of Japanese jeweller Tasaki
The Blend A revival in the use of pearls in fashion and jewellery design places heritage brand Tasaki centre stage
By Felix Bischof Published
-
India doctors' strike: rape and murder of student triggers widespread protests
The Explainer Nationwide outrage at a brutal attack on a female medical student raises familiar problems for country
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Why has a Romanian prince gone fugitive?
Under The Radar Paul of Romania is wanted for his role in plot to reclaim royal lands
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Can Starmer's plan solve the prisons crisis?
Today's Big Question Releasing inmates early is 'least worst option' to tackle overcrowding, but critics say it puts public at risk
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Alec Baldwin on trial over on-set Rust shooting death
In the Spotlight Hollywood actor denies involuntary manslaughter charge in fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Iwao Hakamada: Japan's record-breaking death row prisoner
Under the Radar Former boxer spent 46 years condemned to execution but his retrial could clear his name
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Mexico's avocado militias
Under The Radar The country supplies around 80% of the avocados eaten in the US but they have now been branded 'blood diamonds'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
France's 'swinger' capital rocked by fortune teller scandal
Under the Radar Mayor charged with corruption for 'lavishing' taxpayers' money on clairvoyant who 'impersonated' his dead father
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Trump hush money trial: what has the jury heard?
Today's Big Question Former loyal fixer Michael Cohen proves star witness for prosecution, but Stormy Daniels's graphic testimony could offer grounds for appeal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published