George Metesky: From Injury to New York Bomber

Manhattan 1940: First bomb in Metesky's terror campaign

On a cold November day in 1940, guards at Consolidated Edison's headquarters in Manhattan found a crude pipe bomb on a windowsill. The unexploded bomb, accompanied by a taunting note against the company, initiated a 16-year wave of terror. George Peter Metesky, a former electrician with a serious workplace injury, became known during this period as "The Mad Bomber." His name spread fear throughout New York City, but his case also led to groundbreaking advancements in criminology, including the first major use of criminal profiling. Metesky's meticulously planned bombing campaign against Consolidated Edison involved 33 bombs and changed police investigation of similar cases in the USA.

From injury to revenge: Metesky's paranoia and 'Con Ed crooks'

George Peter Metesky was born in Connecticut in 1903 to Lithuanian immigrants. After a stint as an electrician in the U.S. Marines, he became a mechanic at a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison. On September 6, 1931, a serious workplace injury changed Metesky's life. A boiler explosion at the Hell Gate generating plant in Manhattan severely injured him. Although he received sick pay, Consolidated Edison denied his compensation claim, a decision upheld in subsequent court cases. This rejection, according to Metesky's own statements, led to a mental breakdown with paranoia and a profound desire for revenge. He moved to Waterbury, Connecticut, where, along with his sisters, he developed a fervent hatred for what he considered the "Con Ed crooks," a perception bordering on a personal conspiracy theory.

Bombing escalates: Terror at Grand Central Terminal

Metesky's first bomb in November 1940 against Consolidated Edison's property was a primitive, unexploded pipe bomb. The accompanying note, "Con Edison crooks, this is for you!", revealed his characteristic communication via letters. After two more failed bombing attempts in 1941, Metesky suspended his violent campaign during World War II for patriotic reasons. When he resumed his bombings in 1950, the situation escalated. On March 29, he planted a functional bomb in Grand Central Terminal and warned the press – a new tactic. Over the next six years, his bombs became more sophisticated and were placed in public locations such as the New York Public Library, Radio City Music Hall, Port Authority Bus Terminal, and Macy's department store. Although only 22 of his 33 bombs detonated, they spread constant fear and posed a real terror threat in New York. Metesky's claim of testing his bombs to avoid fatalities underscored the psychological warfare in his vendetta against Consolidated Edison.

Turning point (1956): Dr. Brussel's profile and Kelly's clue

After several years of fruitless investigation, NYPD bomb expert Howard Finney contacted psychiatrist Dr. James A. Brussel in 1956. Through an analysis of the bomb designs, Metesky's letters, and his criminal pattern, Brussel developed a revolutionary criminal profile. He predicted that the perpetrator was an Eastern European man, 40-50 years old, unmarried, living with female relatives, and that he would wear a double-breasted suit. This profile, published in newspapers, was a turning point in the intense investigation. The crucial clue, however, came from Alice Kelly, an employee at Consolidated Edison. She found Metesky's old compensation case file, where phrases like "dastardly deeds" matched the language in The Mad Bomber's letters.

Arrest in Waterbury (1957): Metesky confesses his crimes

On January 21, 1957, police arrested George Peter Metesky at his home in Waterbury. He immediately confessed: "I know why you're here. You think I'm The Mad Bomber." During interrogation, he admitted to being behind all 33 bombs and explained that "F.P." in his letters stood for "Fair Play." Remarkably, he asked to put on his double-breasted suit, just as Dr. James A. Brussel's profile had predicted. During the subsequent trial on April 18, 1957, Metesky was declared a paranoid schizophrenic and unfit for further prosecution, underscoring the severe mental illness he suffered from. At this time, he was also seriously ill with tuberculosis and was committed to Matteawan State Hospital, where he remained for 17 years. His actions, driven by a desire for revenge, can be seen as a form of extreme, personal political protest against a large corporation.

Aftermath: Metesky's release and enduring impact on profiling

Metesky survived his tuberculosis and was declared well enough for release in 1973. He lived a quiet life in Waterbury until his death on May 23, 1994. The case of The Mad Bomber is a significant chapter in U.S. criminal history. It demonstrated the potential violence that can stem from a sense of injustice combined with severe mental illness and had a lasting impact on police investigations. Metesky's actions and the many letters he sent were crucial for the development of psychological profiling, a method that later became central to the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit. The case continues to raise important questions about mental illness, individual responsibility, and the consequences of untreated workplace injuries.

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