Ep 11. Capturing the Unabomber

The eleventh episode of season one of the show "How It Really Happened" is titled "Capturing the Unabomber". The episode revolves around the hunt for and eventual capture of Theodore Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber, who terrorized the United States for almost two decades with his mail bombings.

The episode begins by introducing us to the Unabomber's first victim, Hugh Scrutton. The Unabomber's first bomb was delivered to Scrutton's computer store in Sacramento, California, in 1985. The bomb ended up killing Scrutton, making him the first fatality in the Unabomber's bombing campaign.

The episode then goes on to discuss the FBI's investigation into the Unabomber's bombings. The FBI quickly realized that the bombings were related and that they were dealing with a serial bomber. The Unabomber had already sent over a dozen mail bombs to targets such as universities, airlines, and computer stores.

The FBI dubbed the investigation "UNABOM", which stood for "University and Airline Bomber". They set up a task force dedicated to the case. The task force included psychologists, engineers, and even linguists who analyzed the Unabomber's manifesto to try to figure out who he was.

The episode then delves into the Unabomber's manifesto, which was published in The New York Times and The Washington Post in 1995. The manifesto contained the Unabomber's anti-technology and anti-industrialization beliefs. The FBI hoped that the manifesto would lead someone to recognize the Unabomber's writing style and help them identify him.

The episode then discusses the Unabomber's last and most deadly attack. In 1995, the Unabomber sent a bomb to the offices of advertising executive Thomas J. Mosser in North Caldwell, New Jersey. The bomb ended up killing Mosser and injuring several others. The Unabomber's bombing spree had escalated, and the FBI was under pressure to catch him.

The episode then shifts to the FBI's breakthrough in the case. The Unabomber's brother, David Kaczynski, had been suspicious of his brother for years and had turned in evidence to the FBI that he believed implicated his brother in the bombings.

The episode then concludes with the FBI's capture of the Unabomber. The Unabomber was captured in 1996 after his manifesto was published in a magazine, and someone recognized his writing style. The FBI was then able to match the Unabomber's DNA to that found on the stamps of some of the bombs he had sent.

In conclusion, the eleventh episode of season one of "How It Really Happened" provides a detailed account of the hunt for and eventual capture of the Unabomber. The episode takes the viewer through the FBI's investigation, the Unabomber's manifesto, and the FBI's breakthrough in the case. The episode is a fascinating look at how law enforcement worked tirelessly to bring a dangerous criminal to justice.