"Timothy James McVeigh was a domestic terrorist from the United States who carried out the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995. This act of terrorism resulted in the deaths of 168 people, injured 680 others, and caused the destruction of one-third of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. It is considered the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in the history of the United States."
1945: Noreen Mildred "Mickey" Hill's Birth Year
Timothy McVeigh's mother, Noreen Mildred "Mickey" Hill, was born in 1945.
March 15, 1963: Last Federal Execution
On March 15, 1963, Victor Feguer was executed in Iowa. This was the last federal execution before Timothy McVeigh's in 2001.
April 23, 1968: Birth of Timothy McVeigh
Timothy McVeigh was born on April 23, 1968, in Lockport, New York. He was the only son and the second of three children.
1977: Arrest of McVeigh
Shortly after the Oklahoma City bombing, McVeigh was pulled over in 1977 while driving a yellow 1977 Mercury Marquis and subsequently arrested for driving without license plates and possessing an illegal firearm.
1985: Confirmation
McVeigh was confirmed at the Good Shepherd Church in Pendleton, New York in 1985.
1986: Graduation from Starpoint Central High School
McVeigh graduated from Starpoint Central High School in 1986. He was recognized as the "most promising computer programmer" in his class.
May 1988: Enlistment in the U.S. Army
At 20 years old, in May 1988, Timothy McVeigh enlisted in the United States Army. He attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. During his time in the military, he developed a strong interest in firearms, sniper tactics, and explosives.
1991: Honorable Discharge from the Army
Timothy McVeigh was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1991 after deciding to leave.
1992: Ruby Ridge Incident
The Ruby Ridge incident occured in 1992. It was an eleven-day siege near Naples, Idaho, involving the family of Randy Weaver and federal agents from the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI. It resulted in the deaths of Weaver's wife, son, and a U.S. Marshal. This incident further solidified McVeigh's anti-government beliefs.
1992: Letters of Complaint to Newspapers
In 1992, McVeigh wrote letters to local newspapers expressing his discontent and grievances about taxes.
1992: Contemplation of Assassination
After the Ruby Ridge incident in 1992, McVeigh considered carrying out individual assassinations of government officials, but ultimately decided against it because it seemed too difficult.
April 1993: Learning to Make Explosives
In April 1993, McVeigh stayed at a farm in Michigan owned by Terry Nichols, a former roommate. While there, McVeigh learned how to create explosives using a combination of household chemicals in plastic jugs.
1993: Waco Siege
In 1993, the Waco siege, a 51-day standoff between federal agents and members of the Branch Davidian religious sect, took place. The siege ended in a deadly fire that killed 76 people, including 25 children. This event fueled McVeigh's anti-government sentiment.
1993: Attendance at the Waco Siege
McVeigh traveled to Waco, Texas, in 1993 during the Waco siege to show his support for the Branch Davidians. While there, he distributed pro-gun rights literature and displayed bumper stickers with slogans like, "When guns are outlawed, I will become an outlaw."
1994: Radicalization and Experimentation with Explosives
During 1994, McVeigh's anti-government rhetoric intensified, and he began selling items like bullet-riddled ATF hats and flare guns. He distributed videos and pamphlets criticizing the government's actions at Waco. McVeigh also started experimenting with making pipe bombs and small explosive devices.
April 18, 1995: Witnesses See Trucks at Geary Lake State Park
On April 18, 1995, several people reported seeing two trucks at Geary Lake State Park, where prosecutors alleged the bomb used in the Oklahoma City Bombing was assembled.
April 19, 1995: Oklahoma City Bombing
On April 19, 1995, the Oklahoma City Bombing killed 168 people, including 19 children.
April 19, 1995: Oklahoma City Bombing
On April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh perpetrated the Oklahoma City bombing, which killed 168 people and injured 680. The bombing destroyed one-third of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
August 10, 1995: McVeigh Indicted
On August 10, 1995, Timothy McVeigh was indicted on eleven federal counts, including use of a weapon of mass destruction, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, and first-degree murder.
1995: Jefferson Memorial Bombing
In the alternate timeline of the movie "C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America", McVeigh bombs the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. in 1995.
February 20, 1996: Change of Venue Granted
On February 20, 1996, the court granted a change of venue, and the case was moved from Oklahoma City to the District Court in Denver.
1996: McVeigh's Belief in God
In a 1996 interview, McVeigh said he believed in "a God," although he had "sort of lost touch with" Catholicism.
1996: Publication of "Unintended Consequences"
The novel "Unintended Consequences" was published in 1996.
June 2, 1997: McVeigh Found Guilty
On June 2, 1997, Timothy McVeigh was found guilty on all eleven counts of the federal indictment, including murder, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, and destroying a federal building.
November 21, 1997: Clinton Bars Burial in Military Cemetery
On November 21, 1997, President Bill Clinton signed legislation barring McVeigh and other veterans convicted of capital crimes from being buried in any military cemetery.
1997: Conviction and Sentencing
In 1997, McVeigh was found guilty on all counts related to the Oklahoma City bombing, including the use of a weapon of mass destruction. He was sentenced to death.
May 27, 1998: Fortier Sentenced
On May 27, 1998, Michael Fortier was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined $75,000 for failing to warn authorities about the bombing.
May 29, 1998: Essay Published by Media Bypass
On May 29, 1998, McVeigh's 1,200-word essay, submitted to and published by alternative news magazine Media Bypass, was distributed worldwide by the Associated Press.
March 8, 1999: Supreme Court Appeal Denied
On March 8, 1999, one of McVeigh's appeals for certiorari, taken to the Supreme Court of the United States, was denied.
1999: McVeigh Transferred to Death Row
In 1999, the Federal Bureau of Prisons transferred McVeigh from USP Florence ADMAX to the federal death row at USP Terre Haute in Terre Haute, Indiana.
2000: Interview for 60 Minutes
In a 2000 interview for 60 Minutes, McVeigh discussed his actions and beliefs regarding the Oklahoma City bombing.
January 16, 2001: Execution Date Set
On January 16, 2001, the Federal Bureau of Prisons set McVeigh's execution date for May 16.
June 11, 2001: McVeigh Executed
On June 11, 2001, Timothy McVeigh was executed by lethal injection, the first federal prisoner to be executed since 1963.
June 2001: McVeigh Identifies as Agnostic
In June 2001, one day before his execution, McVeigh wrote a letter to the Buffalo News identifying himself as agnostic.
2002: Science as Religion
In McVeigh's biography "American Terrorist," released in 2002, he stated that science is his religion.
2003: Movie C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America
The movie "C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America", released in 2003, depicts an alternate universe where McVeigh bombs the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. in 1995 and his execution is broadcasted live on television.
January 20, 2006: Fortier Released
On January 20, 2006, Michael Fortier was released from prison for good behavior.
2007: Noreen Mildred "Mickey" Hill's Death Year
Noreen Mildred "Mickey" Hill, McVeigh's mother, passed away in 2007.
2012: The Mirage Novel
The 2012 alternate universe novel "The Mirage" portrays McVeigh as a CIA officer in the Evangelical Republic of Texas, with Terry Nichols as his associate.
2023: Waco: The Aftermath Miniseries
Alex Breaux portrays McVeigh in the 2023 historical drama miniseries "Waco: The Aftermath".
2024: An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th
HBO produced a documentary titled "An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th" in 2024.