AKWilks, take a bow…

Yes, while I realize others have been proponents of Ted K. as Zodiac over the years, none have been as vociferous as AKWilks, in my opinion…

ConcernedCitizen, thanks for the kind words. But I must credit Doug Oswell with generating this response from Ted K. In the past few years, Doug Oswell has not been very active on the Zodiac case and the possible Ted K. connection, and in some ways I have tried to carry on where he left off, building upon the work he did. In regards to the High Tech Coed and Family Murders, I have branched out on my own.

Many years back Doug Oswell wrote the following letter to Ted Kaczynski asking for proof of an alibi for Zodiac murder and mailing dates. He never got an answer. Also, an attorney for Ted told a writer that they could not provide an alibi for any of these dates – not that they would not, but that they could not.

The first Unabomber crime was in 1978, yet in 1971 Ted recorded that he had already engaged in "violent rebellion" against society. In September 1966 Ted recorded the "breakthrough" moment in his life, when he decided to "REALLY kill everyone I hated".(Emphasis in original). The people he hated included "bigshots", scientists, big businessmen, police – but also "rowdy college students" promiscuous women who are "pigs, animals" and "noisy" love making couples.

Had Ted supplied an alibi for any of the key Z dates, that would end speculation about him being Z.

This is the letter:

—————————

Mr. Kaczynski:

My name is Douglas Oswell. For the past five years I have been researching the similarities between the Unabomber and a world-renowned criminal styled “Zodiac,” who became a pop-culture icon in the late 1960s through a series of sensational murders and correspondences with the press.

At this juncture I have uncovered no evidence that would forge a definite link between the activities of the Unabomber and those of Zodiac. Authorities at both the state and federal level have written off the likelihood of any such connection. Nevertheless it is undeniable (even by the detractors of a connection) that many similarities exist.

I have been advised that it would be unfair to suggest such a connection without offering you the opportunity to defend the reputation of the Unabomber and the philosophy for which he stood. To that end I would like to present you with a list of dates and ask that you provide accounts of your whereabouts for as many of those dates as possible. A valid alibi for even a single date, backed by documentary evidence, would be sufficient to prove conclusively that there is no linkage whatsoever between the sordid crimes of Zodiac and the more principled (albeit terrible) activities of the Unabomber.

Here is the list of dates in question:

December 20, 1968

July 4—5, 1969

(A complete list of the dates of confirmed Zodiac crimes and mailings follows).

Please bear in mind that any alibi should be backed either by documentary evidence or the word of a reliable individual. In the latter case I would appreciate receiving from you a letter or letters of introduction that will establish my credibility to any such person.

It is only fair to state that I do not consider your brother, David Kaczynski, to be a reliable individual for the purpose of establishing an alibi. In 1990, based on conversations with your brother, a friend of his wrote a heretofore unpublished novel about “a Berkeley professor’s war with technology.” Within that novel the fictional "Berkeley professor" committed (knife) murders to promote his worldview, thus anticipating the actual truth long before the Unabomber entered the public imagination.

Whatever the case, I will publish your response in such a way that it may be freely accessed by any interested person.

There is an advantage to you in this. The entire world is aware that you have risked your life to disprove the notion that the Unabomber’s actions were not philosophically motivated, but simply the result of a deviant or warped psychology. I must frankly tell you that the postulated linkage between Zodiac and the Unabomber has grown and persisted in the past five years. Indeed, it shows signs of strengthening in the years to come. I fear that if this theory is not thoroughly refuted, posterity will know the Unabomber not for his principled stand against technology, but for his similarity to a sick and sordid criminal who murdered minor children to assuage his sexual frustrations and shore up a foundering ego. The Zodiac Killer is widely known as “America’s Jack the Ripper.” The Unabomber is fast becoming the “favorite suspect" in a mystery that, because it remains unsolved, will endure for many years to come. You alone can divest him of that distinction.

I thank you for your attention to this matter and encourage you to respond. Enclosed is a small amount of money ($5.00) to defray the cost of postage and stationery.

Sincerely,
Douglas E. Oswell
————————————-
Doug told me he never got a reply to this letter.

If TK was NOT the Zodiac, it would be so easy for him to blow this whole idea out of the water, by producing a timecard, a paycheck, class attendance sheet, a letter, postmarked envelope, a photograph, a witness.

Doug told me another writer got a response from Ted’s attorney that "No alibi for the above dates could be produced." Not that Ted and his attorney would not produce alibis, but that they could not.

AK WILKS:

onewhoknows asked: "Dear AK have you ever sent a letter to TK and asked him if he is the Zodiac? Just wondering"

AK: I have not yet, but in the first post you can see what happened when Doug Oswell did.

Ted did not directly respond.

This still cracks me up!

Apparently Ted Kaczynski is the only person left in the world besides Robert Graysmith who thinks Allen was the Zodiac.

Ted relies on the fact that according to him "law enforcement authorities concluded I had no connection with the Zodiac case."

Yep thats Ted, always a big believer in how right the law enforcement authorities are! This from the man who said the "FBI isn’t going to catch [me] anytime soon. The FBI is a joke."

The first Unabomber crime was in 1978, yet in 1971 Ted recorded that he had already engaged in "violent rebellion" against society. In September 1966 Ted recorded the "breakthrough" moment in his life, when he decided to "REALLY kill everyone I hated".(Emphasis in original). The people he hated included "bigshots", scientists, big businessmen, police – but also "rowdy college students" promiscuous women who are "pigs, animals" and "noisy" love making couples.

For those who aren’t aware of the significance of this statement, (of course, I know you do AK), it raises the question, Why would Kaczynski wait seven years to act on these feelings? Which leads into discussion about the typical age a serial killer would begin his campaign. Kaczynski turned 36 three days before his first letter bomb arrived ["For male serial killers, the average age they first killed at is 27.5" -Dr. Mike Aamodt, Radford University, https://bit.ly/3o9YhsC ]. Of course, Oswell, in his book, defines the Zodiac as a "Mass murderer" (avg age 33.4yrs).

"…offering you the opportunity to defend the reputation of the Unabomber and the philosophy for which he stood."

Fascinating choice of third person narrative.

"There is an advantage to you in this. The entire world is aware that you have risked your life to disprove the notion that the Unabomber’s actions were not philosophically motivated, but simply the result of a deviant or warped psychology. I fear…posterity will know the Unabomber not for his principled stand against technology, but for his similarity to a sick and sordid criminal who murdered minor children to assuage his sexual frustrations and shore up a foundering ego.”

AK, no doubt Oswell put a great deal of thought into the construction of the letter. The third person example is clearly deliberate. We know Kaczynski was utterly opposed to entertaining the idea that his crimes were the product of mental illness, even if it would spare him from execution. Oswell’s reverse psychology above clearly feeds into this. Not quite Henry Murray, but, as you say, it raises the million dollar question as to why Kaczynski wouldn’t go out of his way to prove he wasn’t the Zodiac. Brilliant.

He’s kinda fascinating for the Zodiac.

However, is it really that surprising that a someone can’t provide alibies for random dates that were in excess of 25 years old? An anti-social person, at that, who likely had no particular outings to recall.

He’s kinda fascinating for the Zodiac.

However, is it really that surprising that a someone can’t provide alibis for random dates that were in excess of 25 years old? An anti-social person, at that, who likely had no particular outings to recall.

But for part of this period of the Zodiac killings and mailings he was employed. He also traveled out of state. Ted was known to keep meticulous records. It should not have been that difficult to produce a timecard, paycheck stub , class attendance sheet, letter sent or received with an out of California postmark, photograph taken out of state, etc. Moreover, as mr.sean states, Ted was adamant in denying any mental illness, thus would have a strong incentive to produce any proof of an alibi for just one confirmed Zodiac murder or mailing date. And I remind you what Ted’s attorney told a writer who asked for proof of an alibi for even one confirmed Z murder or mailing. The attorney said proof an alibi could not be produced. Not that it would not be produced, but it could not.

Interesting fact: Prior to any known crimes Ted committed, his one negative attention from the police was a ticket for not stopping for a school bus.

He’s kinda fascinating for the Zodiac.

However, is it really that surprising that a someone can’t provide alibis for random dates that were in excess of 25 years old? An anti-social person, at that, who likely had no particular outings to recall.

But for part of this period of the Zodiac killings and mailings he was employed. He also traveled out of state. Ted was known to keep meticulous records. It should not have been that difficult to produce a timecard, paycheck stub , class attendance sheet, letter sent or received with an out of California postmark, photograph taken out of state, etc. Moreover, as mr.sean states, Ted was adamant in denying any mental illness, thus would have a strong incentive to produce any proof of an alibi for just one confirmed Zodiac murder or mailing date. And I remind you what Ted’s attorney told a writer who asked for proof of an alibi for even one confirmed Z murder or mailing. The attorney said proof an alibi could not be produced. Not that it would not be produced, but it could not.

Interesting fact: Prior to any known crimes Ted committed, his one negative attention from the police was a ticket for not stopping for a school bus.

Don’t get me wrong, this is all interesting and I find reason to research further. Yes, he appears to have kept meticulous records. But he could have stayed home and read a book. Is that something he would have recorded in some journal entry?

He’s kinda fascinating for the Zodiac.

However, is it really that surprising that a someone can’t provide alibis for random dates that were in excess of 25 years old? An anti-social person, at that, who likely had no particular outings to recquote]

AK Wilks:
But even on days he stayed home in cabin, he would record everything, including what he had for lunch that day.

But for part of this period of the Zodiac killings and mailings he was employed. He also traveled out of state. Ted was known to keep meticulous records. It should not have been that difficult to produce a timecard, paycheck stub , class attendance sheet, letter sent or received with an out of California postmark, photograph taken out of state, etc.

Moreover, as mr.sean states, Ted was adamant in denying any mental illness, thus would have a strong incentive to produce any proof of an alibi for just one confirmed Zodiac murder or mailing date.

And I remind you what Ted’s attorney told a writer who asked for proof of an alibi for even once confirmed Z murder or mailing. The attorney said proof an alibi could not be produced. Not that it would not be produced, but it could not.

Interesting fact: Prior to any known crimes Ted committed, his one negative attention from the police was a ticket for not stopping for a school bus.

Blem Blem: Don’t get me wrong, this is all interesting and I find reason to research further. Yes, he appears to have kept meticulous records. But he could have stayed home and read a book. Is that something he would have recorded in some journal entry?