David Kaczynski

What followed was an agonizing moral crisis. As David later described it: "If I did nothing, some other person would be blown up or maimed. On the other hand, I'd either have some innocent person's blood on my hands if I did nothing, or my brother's blood on my hands if I stepped forward" ^[3]. He contacted the FBI through an attorney, securing a promise of confidentiality and advance notice of any arrest. That promise was broken — David learned of Ted's capture from a television broadcast ^[2].

Federal prosecutors sought the death penalty despite having allegedly promised psychiatric help. David hired lawyers who ultimately helped secure a life sentence instead. The experience transformed him into a passionate anti-death penalty advocate. He became executive director of New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty and has traveled the country alongside Gary Wright, a Unabomber bombing survivor, speaking about reconciliation, mercy, and the failures of capital punishment ^[3]. David donated the $1 million FBI reward to a fund assisting Unabomber victims ^[4].