'MANHUNT: UNABOMBER:' FBI PROFILER ON CATCHING TED KACZYNSKI, ...AND MEETING DONALD TRUMP

Newsweek ^ | July 29, 2017 | Abigail Jones

[PJ-Comix]

You’ve probably seen the black and white police sketch of a man with a mustache, wearing dark aviators and a hoodie, a patch of curly hair peaking out from underneath. That ominous image tormented Americans for years, because the man behind those sunglasses was responsible for a string of terrorist attacks that killed three people and maimed dozens more from 1978 to 1995.

You’ve probably also heard about how this man—known only as the Unabomber—sent increasingly sophisticated bombs to unsuspecting victims in the science, technology and airline industries. Some sustained minor injuries and others suffered shrapnel wounds and severe burns, and their lost fingers and eyesight. A computer store owner, advertising executive and timber industry lobbyist were murdered when they opened seemingly innocuous packages sent to their offices and homes.

The search for the Unabomber was one of the longest and most expensive manhunts in FBI history, and it may never have ended had it not been for Jim Fitzgerald, an FBI profiler with an unorthodox approach to identifying the killer. That’s the story you probably don’t know—and it’s now the subject of a new Discovery Channel series, Manhunt: Unabomber (premieres Tuesday, 9 ET/PT), starring Sam Worthington (Avatar), Paul Bettany (Captain America: Civil War, A Beautiful Mind), Chris Noth (“The Good Wife,” “Sex In The City”) and Jane Lynch (“Glee,” “Hollywood Game Night.”)

[PJ-Comix]

I was called one day into my office by the director of security of Trump Incorporated. This was ’91 or ’92. He said, ‘Our office is getting all these hang-up phone calls. We hear voices in the background. They sound threatening. Could you get a case assigned?’ It was assigned to me. I was dressed down that day in jeans and a three-button shirt; we’d surveill bank robbers sometimes. I said, I can come down, but not today. I went the next day and wore a suit. I spoke to the security guy. All of a sudden the door opens behind me and Trump comes in. He told me to call him Donald.

He was the most polite guy, friendly guy. He offered to buy me lunch, but I said thank you and passed. We spent 10 minutes in an office off of his main office, with a beautiful view of midtown. It was in Trump Tower. He was very well dressed. I had my best $200 suit on, and his tie probably cost as much, but that's fine, that’s the Donald.

Over the next two days we figured out the problem. It was the advent of cell phone towers being put in and they were crossing onto landlines and picking up people’s voices, and someone said the F-word and it turned out it was really nothing. I hope in his present office he’s not having this problem, people listening in or somehow surveilling him. Let’s hope, anyway. We know there are problems with leaks. No one should have their phone calls listened to.

Fitzgerald sounds like a good guy. If you haven't been watching this series, check it out. It is absolutely compelling. Absolutely fascinating how Fitzgerald used linguistics to catch the Unabomber whose profile was established by his use of language. If you can't watch it on TV it is also available online.

[PJ-Comix]

Oops my mistake. Author of the article was ABIGAIL JONES. Please correct.

[proust]

Taking credit for “catching” the unabomber. They were stumped for decades until Ted’s brother ratted him out. That’s luck, not skill.

[Timpanagos1]

The decision to publish Ted’s manifesto was critical to breaking the case and very controversial.

It was that decision to publish the manifesto that broke the case.

[Bodleian_Girl]

It sounds impossible for landlines to cross over on to cell lines and vice versa.

Also, I thought it was the Unibomber’s sister in law who noticed the writing that was similar to her brother in law.

[Bob434]

[[It is absolutely compelling.]]

Meh- too much added in drama- it’s ok but overly dramatic-ended up turning it off actually-

[[Absolutely fascinating how Fitzgerald used linguistics to catch the Unabomber whose profile was established by his use of language.]]

That part was fascinating though- if true- they were able to establish a ‘fingerprint’ by spotting common mispelled words- or rather words Ted used that used old world spelling- and how they tied it in to the old chicago tribune (?) word guide- that was quite a find/discovery- some real impressive police work if true-

[proust]

publishing a manifesto is not an investigative feat.

[PJ-Comix]

Taking credit for “catching” the unabomber. They were stumped for decades until Ted’s brother ratted him out. That’s luck, not skill.

Before the brother ID'd him, Fitzgerald used linguistics to show approximate age (probably over 50) of the Unabomber plus determined he wrote a university doctoral thesis between 1967 and 1972. Also Fitzgerald was able to convince FBI to allow publication of the Unabomber Manifesto (which could have been ghostwritten by Al Gore) so that somewhere out there might be able to recognize the writing style which did happen.

[PJ-Comix]

It was interesting the part about how linguists determined where Slavs originially came from based on words they did NOT use. Namely marshy area with few trees.

[proust]

The profiling caught no one. I can profile killers and not catch anyone.

[Timpanagos1]

It was controversial, as publishing the manifesto was in fact giving into the demands of a Terrorist.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

I watched one episode last week. How many episodes are there?

[Sacajaweau]

They kept information back....the elaborate carved boxes that the bombs were in. Had they put that out to the public, they might have caught him a lot sooner. And the bro had to know.....waaaaaay before they caught him.

I sure wouldn't brag about it. He left you 100 clues.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Brilliant, mind-blowing mathmetician. He had a code that would make the Windtalkers of Navajo look like children’s books. Wonder what triggered him.

[Hieronymus]

His brother added him to the 2500 or so suspects—picking the right one out of 2500 does take some skill, even if the right one is included.

[Bob434]

yep- definitely got some very interesting stuff in the series- The exchange with Ted was interesting too- Ted looked like he had them over a barrel- Had the case been tried today- not sure the feds would have won as some ‘dream team’ woulda ripped the feds apart for relying on a non existent field to make the case- I think it woulda been a different outcome possibly- considering how precise they have to be today to get a conviction- Thankfully i think the courts were a little more lenients back then in what they allowed and didn’t allow- Who knows- sure woulda sucked if he had walked-

[crosdaddy]

A microagression?

[Bob434]

it was about conviction- not catching- Yes, dumb luck got the arrest- but solid police work got the conviction

[PJ-Comix]

Brilliant, mind-blowing mathmetician. He had a code that would make the Windtalkers of Navajo look like children’s books. Wonder what triggered him.

One answer is a Harvard Professor who used students (including Unabomber) to conduct unethical psychological experiments by chopping down their self-esteem. Apparently it affected the Unabomber very negatively and possibly triggered him.

[posterchild]

Biographical info; https://www.biography.com/people/ted-kaczynski-578450
Al gore or unabomber: http://www.crm114.com/algore/quiz.html