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Retired agent Max Noel served nearly 31 years with the FBI. In this episode of FBI Retired Case File Review, Noel is interviewed about the Unabomber Terrorist Ted Kaczynski case. For 15 years, multiple agencies, including the FBI, AFT, the Postal Inspection Service and numerous state and local police departments, worked mostly independently to identified and arrest the person responsible for setting off 16 bombs throughout the United States that killed three and seriously maimed and injured 23 victims. Noel, who was planning to retire just prior to being hand-picked for the assignment, was selected as the investigative squad supervisor for a new task force created by then Attorney General Janet Reno and FBI Director Louie Freeh. FBI management supported Noel and his multi-agency team with a strategy to manage the massive manpower and paper intensive major investigation—code-named Unabomber— that had previously frustrated and overwhelmed all involved. Ted Kaczynski’s name was among the huge list of potential suspects. As luck would have it, the Unabomber’s anonymity was finally cracked when Kaczynski released his infamous manifesto. Noel and other members of the task force received the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguish Service for their efforts. Noel, along with Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Jim Freeman and Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) Terry D. Turchie, wrote a book, Unabomber: How the FBI Broke Its Own Rules to Capture the Terrorist Ted Kaczynski, about how, after almost 17 years, they finally identified, captured, and convicted the notorious Unabomber.
Supervisory Special Agent (Retired)
Donald “Max” Noel
6/28/1968 – 2/1/1999
The following are an FBI overview and newspaper articles providing additional information regarding the Unabomber terrorist Ted Kaczynski:
FBI Overview – Unabomber Case (VIDEO)
FBI Website: The Words of a Killer – How the Unabomber’s Writings Helped Lead Investigators to His Door 25 Years Ago
Washington Post – 16 Bombs and Three Deaths – Special Report, Timeline, Manifesto
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Enjoyed studying this, very good stuff, regards . A man may learn wisdom even from a foe. by Aristophanes. cceebddbeada
So true!
Excels just as the F.B.I. always does. Proud to be an American
Max did an excellent job recounting the investigation. Thanks for listening!
I just listened to the first half of the Unabomber podcast ..WOW! It was fascinating to learn about the background in developing an interagency task force. Your interviews are very engaging and I would not have guessed that was 90 minutes! I love how you let Max recount the amazing history behind trying to identify the bomber but you stop to add some great “layman’s term” analysis & commenary (i.e. FCI involvement, dealing w/ internal FBI resistance to cooperate, etc). Can’t wait to finish part 2!
Thanks for listening! In Part 2 Max Noel and the team devise a plan to coax Kaczynzki out of his little mountain bomb factory cabin.