Early Life and Education of Ted Kaczynski: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Ted Kaczynski. From birth to education, explore key events.

Theodore Kaczynski, the "Unabomber," was an American mathematician who became a domestic terrorist. After abandoning his academic career in 1969, he adopted a primitive lifestyle. He engaged in a bombing campaign aimed at individuals involved with modern technology, motivated by his rejection of industrial society and its impact on nature and human autonomy. His actions resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. His manifesto, "Industrial Society and Its Future," outlines his anti-technology philosophy, arguing that technology inevitably leads to the erosion of freedom and environmental destruction.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

May 22, 1942: Birth of Theodore John Kaczynski

On May 22, 1942, Theodore John Kaczynski, later known as the Unabomber, was born.

1952: Moved to Evergreen Park, Illinois

In 1952, three years after his brother David was born, Kaczynski's family moved to suburban Evergreen Park, Illinois, and Ted transferred to Evergreen Park Central Junior High School.

1958: Accepted to Harvard University

In 1958, Kaczynski was accepted to Harvard University on a scholarship at the age of 15, entering the university at age 16.

1962: Graduated from Harvard

In 1962, Kaczynski earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics from Harvard, finishing with a GPA of 3.12.

1962: Enrolled at the University of Michigan

In 1962, Kaczynski enrolled at the University of Michigan.

1962: Harvard Alumni Association

In 2012, Kaczynski responded to the Harvard Alumni Association's directory inquiry for the fiftieth reunion of the class of 1962, listing his occupation as "prisoner" and eight life sentences as "awards."

1964: Earned Master's Degree

In 1964, Kaczynski earned his master's degree in mathematics from the University of Michigan.

1966: Turning Point

In 1966, Kaczynski had intense sexual fantasies of being female and considered a gender transition, marking a major turning point in his life.

1967: Earned Doctorate Degree

In 1967, Kaczynski earned his doctorate degree in mathematics from the University of Michigan.

1967: Won Sumner B. Myers Prize

In 1967, Kaczynski's dissertation, Boundary Functions, won the Sumner B. Myers Prize for Michigan's best mathematics dissertation of the year.

1967: Kaczynski lived in the San Francisco Bay Area

In 1967, Ted Kaczynski lived in the San Francisco Bay Area. This fact raised suspicion after his capture that Kaczynski was the Zodiac Killer.

1967: Assistant Professor at Berkeley

In late 1967, Kaczynski became an acting assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

September 1968: Formal Appointment as Assistant Professor

By September 1968, Kaczynski was formally appointed to an assistant professorship at the University of California, Berkeley.

1968: Zodiac Killer suspicion

In 1968, theories linked Kaczynski to the Zodiac Killer, who committed murders in Northern California from 1968 to 1969. Similarities included high intelligence, interest in bombs and codes, and threatening letters to newspapers. However, authorities did not pursue him as a suspect due to differences in methods.

1969: Abandoned Academic Career

In 1969, Kaczynski abandoned his academic career to pursue a reclusive, primitive lifestyle and engage in a lone wolf terrorism campaign.

1969: Zodiac Killer suspicion

In 1969, theories linked Kaczynski to the Zodiac Killer, who committed murders in Northern California from 1968 to 1969. Similarities included high intelligence, interest in bombs and codes, and threatening letters to newspapers. However, authorities did not pursue him as a suspect due to differences in methods.

1971: Move to Lombard and Montana

After resigning from Berkeley, Kaczynski moved to his parents' home in Lombard, Illinois, and two years later, in 1971, he moved to a remote cabin he had built outside Lincoln, Montana.

1971: 1971 Essay

Bisceglie gave a copy of the 1971 essay written by Kaczynski to Molly Flynn at the FBI in February 1996

1971: Moved to Remote Cabin

In 1971, Kaczynski moved to a remote cabin near Lincoln, Montana, where he lived as a recluse and developed survival skills.

1975: Started Acts of Sabotage

Starting in 1975, Kaczynski performed acts of sabotage including arson and booby trapping against developments near his cabin. He also dedicated himself to reading about sociology and political philosophy, including the works of Jacques Ellul.

May 1978: Chicago Return

In May 1978, Kaczynski returned to Chicago for the bombing and worked with his father and brother at a foam rubber factory.

May 25, 1978: First Mail Bomb

On May 25, 1978, Kaczynski's first mail bomb, disguised with Buckley Crist's return address, was found at the University of Illinois at Chicago. It exploded when opened by Officer Terry Marker, causing minor injuries.

August 1978: Factory Firing

In August 1978, Kaczynski was fired from the foam rubber factory by his brother for writing insulting limericks about a female supervisor he had briefly courted.

1978: Start of Mail Bombing Campaign

In 1978, Kaczynski began a nationwide mail bombing campaign that lasted until 1995, targeting individuals associated with modern technology.

1978: Bombing Campaign Start

In 1978, Ted Kaczynski began his bombing campaign, which would last until 1995, mailing and hand-delivering increasingly sophisticated bombs.

1979: Subject of FBI Investigation

In 1979, Kaczynski became the subject of the FBI's UNABOM investigation, which became the longest and most expensive in FBI history by the time of his arrest in 1996.

1979: American Airlines Flight Bombing

In 1979, Kaczynski placed a bomb in the cargo hold of American Airlines Flight 444, a Boeing 727 flying from Chicago to Washington, D.C., which caused smoke and an emergency landing. He later sent a bomb to United Airlines president Percy Wood, causing severe injuries.

1979: FBI Task Force Formed

In 1979, an FBI-led task force, including 125 agents from the FBI, ATF, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, was formed to investigate the 'Junkyard Bomber' case.

1980: Psychological Profile

In 1980, FBI agent John Douglas issued a psychological profile of the Unabomber, characterizing him as intelligent with academic ties.

1981: University of Utah Bombing

In 1981, a package bearing the return address of LeRoy Wood Bearnson, a Brigham Young University professor, was discovered at the University of Utah and defused. In May, a bomb was sent to Patrick C. Fischer at Vanderbilt University, injuring his secretary, Janet Smith.

July 1982: Berkeley Bombing

In July 1982, a bomb targeting people at the University of California, Berkeley, caused serious injuries to engineering professor Diogenes Angelakos.

1983: Alternative Theory

In 1983, the initial psychological profile was discarded, and FBI analysts developed an alternative theory that concentrated on the physical evidence, characterizing the suspect as a blue-collar airplane mechanic.

May 1985: UC Berkeley Bombing

In May 1985, John Hauser, a graduate student and Air Force captain, lost fingers and vision in one eye due to a bomb crafted by Kaczynski from wooden parts at the University of California, Berkeley.

November 1985: McConnell Bombing

In November 1985, Professor James V. McConnell and research assistant Nicklaus Suino were severely injured after Suino opened a mail bomb addressed to McConnell.

1985: Sacramento Bombing

In late 1985, a nail-and-splinter-loaded bomb in the parking lot of a computer store in Sacramento, California, killed the store's 38-year-old owner, Hugh Scrutton.

1986: Book Zodiac by Robert Graysmith

In 1986, Robert Graysmith, author of the book "Zodiac", said similarities between Kaczynski and the Zodiac Killer are "fascinating" but purely coincidental.

February 20, 1987: Salt Lake City Bombing

On February 20, 1987, a bomb disguised as lumber injured Gary Wright in Salt Lake City, Utah. Kaczynski was spotted planting the bomb, leading to a widely distributed sketch of a hooded suspect.

October 2, 1990: Father's Suicide

On October 2, 1990, Kaczynski's father shot and killed himself in his home after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer earlier that year.

1993: University Bombings

In 1993, Kaczynski mailed a bomb to Charles Epstein at the University of California, San Francisco, and another to David Gelernter at Yale University, causing severe injuries to both.

1993: World Trade Center bombing

In 1993, Ramzi Yousef perpetrated the World Trade Center bombing.

1993: Investigators Seek "Nathan"

In 1993, investigators looked for someone named "Nathan" because the name was on a letter sent to the media.

1994: Thomas J. Mosser Killed

In 1994, Burson-Marsteller executive Thomas J. Mosser was killed by a mail bomb sent to his home in New Jersey. Kaczynski claimed responsibility due to Mosser's work repairing Exxon's image after the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

September 1995: Publication of Manifesto

In September 1995, Kaczynski's manifesto was published in The Washington Post after he promised to "desist from terrorism" if it was published.

September 1995: David Suspects Ted

In September 1995, a week after the Unabomber's manifesto was published, Kaczynski's brother, David, seriously considered the possibility that Ted was the Unabomber after his wife encouraged him to follow up on his suspicions.

September 19, 1995: Manifesto Published

On September 19, 1995, The Washington Post published Kaczynski's 35,000-word essay 'Industrial Society and Its Future' after he threatened to desist from terrorism if a major newspaper printed it. This was also known as the 'Unabomber manifesto'.

1995: Gilbert Brent Murray Killed

In 1995, Gilbert Brent Murray, president of the California Forestry Association, was killed by a mail bomb addressed to the previous president. Phillip Sharp at MIT also received a threatening letter.

1995: End of Mail Bombing Campaign

In 1995, Kaczynski's mail bombing campaign, which started in 1978, came to an end.

1995: Bombing Campaign End

In 1995, Ted Kaczynski's bombing campaign concluded, after having mailed and hand-delivered a series of increasingly sophisticated bombs since 1978.

1995: Oklahoma City bombing

In 1995, Timothy McVeigh perpetrated the Oklahoma City bombing.

February 1996: Linguistic Analysis

In February 1996, the FBI profiler James R. Fitzgerald recognized similarities in Kaczynski's 1971 essay and the manifesto through linguistic analysis, leading to a search warrant application.

April 3, 1996: Kaczynski Arrested at His Cabin

On April 3, 1996, FBI agents arrested Ted Kaczynski at his remote cabin. During the search, they found bomb components, journals detailing bomb-making and descriptions of his crimes, improvised firearms, a live bomb, and a manuscript believed to be the original version of "Industrial Society and Its Future".

April 1996: CBS News Leaks David Kaczynski's Identity

In early April 1996, CBS News leaked the identity of David Kaczynski, who had provided information to the FBI about his brother, despite assurances of anonymity. CBS anchorman Dan Rather informed FBI director Louis Freeh before breaking the story. The FBI initiated an internal investigation into the leak, but the source was never found.

June 1996: Kaczynski Indicted by Federal Grand Jury

In June 1996, a federal grand jury indicted Ted Kaczynski on ten counts of illegally transporting, mailing, and using bombs.

1996: Arrested

By the time of Kaczynski's arrest in 1996, the FBI's UNABOM investigation was the longest and most expensive in its history.

1996: Ted Kaczynski Papers, 1996-2014

From 1996 to 2014, The Labadie Collection, part of the University of Michigan's Special Collections Library, houses Kaczynski's correspondence with over 400 people since his arrest, including replies, legal documents, publications, and clippings in their own sub-collection titled, "Ted Kaczynski Papers, 1996-2014 (majority within 1996-2005)".

1996: Arrested after brother recognized writing style

In 1996, Kaczynski was arrested after his brother, David, recognized his writing style in the published manifesto and reported his suspicions to the FBI.

1996: Classmate's Recollection

In 1996, a former classmate described Kaczynski as being seen as a 'walking brain' rather than as an individual with a personality during high school.

January 8, 1998: Kaczynski Seeks New Counsel

On January 8, 1998, Ted Kaczynski asked to dismiss his lawyers and hire Tony Serra, who agreed not to use an insanity defense but to base the defense on Kaczynski's anti-technology views.

January 21, 1998: Kaczynski Declared Competent to Stand Trial

On January 21, 1998, federal prison psychiatrist Johnson declared Kaczynski competent to stand trial, despite psychiatric diagnoses, and prosecutors sought the death penalty.

January 22, 1998: Kaczynski Pleads Guilty to All Charges

On January 22, 1998, Ted Kaczynski pleaded guilty to all charges, accepting life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. He later tried to withdraw his plea, but the request was denied.

1998: Guilty Plea and Sentencing

In 1998, Kaczynski pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to several consecutive life terms in prison without the possibility of parole.

2000: Cost of Unabomber Investigation Detailed in Report

In 2000, a report by the United States Commission on the Advancement of Federal Law Enforcement stated that the Unabomber task force had spent over $50 million on the investigation.

2001: McVeigh's execution in 2001

In 2001, Timothy McVeigh was executed.

October 2005: Kaczynski Offers Books to Northwestern University

In October 2005, Kaczynski offered to donate two rare books to the Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies at Northwestern University, but the library rejected the offer.

2006: Burrell Orders Auction of Kaczynski's Items

In 2006, Judge Burrell ordered the sale of items from Kaczynski's cabin at an Internet auction to provide restitution to his victims. Bomb-making materials were excluded. Kaczynski unsuccessfully challenged redactions in his personal papers before the sale.

2006: Recollection of Michigan University

In 2006, Kaczynski stated that he had unpleasant memories of the University of Michigan.

2010: Kaczynski Publishes Technological Slavery

In his 2010 book "Technological Slavery", Kaczynski discussed his psychiatric diagnosis, claiming prison psychologists found no indication of paranoid schizophrenia.

2011: Kaczynski a Person of Interest in Tylenol Murders

In 2011, Kaczynski was a person of interest in the Chicago Tylenol murders and withheld a DNA sample as leverage against the FBI's auction of his property.

2011: Auction of Kaczynski's Items Raises Funds

In 2011, the auction of items from Kaczynski's cabin ran for two weeks, raising over $232,000, which is equivalent to approximately $324,300 in 2024. The proceeds were for the restitution of Kaczynski's victims.

2012: Kaczynski Responds to Harvard Alumni Association

2014: Ted Kaczynski Papers, 1996-2014

2019: Kaczynski's Cabin Moved to FBI Museum

In 2019, the U.S. government moved Kaczynski's cabin, which had been on display at the Newseum, to a nearby FBI museum.

March 2021: Kaczynski Diagnosed with Rectal Cancer

In March 2021, Ted Kaczynski was diagnosed with rectal cancer and complained of rectal bleeding.

December 14, 2021: Kaczynski Transferred to Federal Medical Center

On December 14, 2021, Kaczynski was transferred to the Federal Medical Center, Butner, in North Carolina.

March 2023: Kaczynski Declines Cancer Treatment

In March 2023, Kaczynski began to decline all chemotherapy treatment due to unpleasant side effects and a poor prognosis.

March 2023: Stopped Cancer Treatment

In March 2023, Kaczynski stopped cancer treatment.

May 2023: Kaczynski Referred for Psychiatric Evaluation

In May 2023, Kaczynski was noted by a prison oncologist to be "depressed" and was referred for a psychiatric evaluation.

June 2023: Death in Prison

In June 2023, Kaczynski died by suicide in prison.

2024: Reward value in 2024

In 1980, the UNABOM Task Force set up a toll-free telephone hotline to take calls related to the investigation, with a $1 million reward for anyone who could provide information leading to the Unabomber's capture which is equivalent to approximately $2.18 million in 2024.