The New York City "Mad Bomber", George P. Metesky, is arrested in Waterbury, Connecticut and charged with planting more than 30 bombs.

George Peter Metesky: The Mad Bomber's Reign of Terror in New York City

George Peter Metesky (November 2, 1903 – May 23, 1994), infamously known as "The Mad Bomber," was an American electrician and mechanic whose calculated acts of terror gripped New York City for a staggering 16 years, spanning from the 1940s into the mid-1950s. His destructive campaign involved the strategic placement of explosive devices across the city's most vital and highly trafficked public spaces.

Metesky leveraged his professional background as an electrician and mechanic, skills which provided him with the technical knowledge necessary to construct and deploy his homemade bombs. His meticulous planning and execution allowed him to evade capture for well over a decade, sowing widespread fear and disrupting daily life in the metropolis.

A Campaign of Fear: Targeting Public Spaces and Iconic Landmarks

The Mad Bomber's targets were deliberately chosen for their high public visibility and concentration of people, maximizing the psychological impact of his attacks. Bombs were concealed in everyday locations, transforming common public amenities into potential threats. These included phone booths, storage lockers, and restrooms found within major public buildings and transportation hubs across New York City. Among his most notable targets were:

Beyond these prominent sites, Metesky also extended his terror to movie theaters, where he employed a particularly insidious method: meticulously cutting into seat upholstery to conceal his explosive devices inside, making them virtually undetectable until detonation. This pattern of targeting diverse public venues ensured that no citizen felt truly safe, perpetuating a pervasive sense of unease throughout the city.

The Root of Resentment: A Grievance Unaddressed

Metesky's destructive spree was fueled by deep-seated anger and resentment stemming from a workplace injury he suffered years prior. In 1931, while employed as a mechanic at Consolidated Edison, Metesky sustained a head injury from a fall, an incident he believed was mishandled by his employer. His subsequent failure to secure what he perceived as fair compensation and justice became the driving force behind his vendetta against society, specifically targeting entities he associated with the perceived injustice.

Over the course of his terror campaign, Metesky planted at least 33 bombs, of which 22 ultimately detonated. While his actions were undeniably dangerous and designed to terrorize, they resulted in injuries to 15 people but, remarkably, no fatalities. This pattern suggests that his primary intent may have been to cause widespread disruption and fear, rather than mass casualties, though the potential for deadly outcomes was ever-present.

Pioneering Forensic Psychology: The Hunt for the Bomber

The prolonged and perplexing nature of the Mad Bomber case led to a groundbreaking advancement in criminal investigation: the early adoption of offender profiling. Faced with a seemingly elusive perpetrator, law enforcement turned to forensic psychiatry for assistance. Dr. James A. Brussel, a pioneering psychiatrist, was instrumental in developing a psychological profile of the bomber based on the evidence left at bomb sites and letters sent to newspapers.

Brussel's detailed profile was remarkably accurate and provided crucial insights that narrowed the search. He famously predicted the bomber would be:

This innovative approach marked a significant moment in the history of criminal investigation, laying foundational principles for modern forensic psychology.

The Capture and Aftermath

The long hunt for the Mad Bomber finally concluded in January 1957. Metesky was apprehended based on vital clues contained within letters he had sent to the New York Herald Tribune newspaper. In these letters, often signed with "F.P." (for "Fair Play"), Metesky detailed his grievances and demanded justice for his injury, inadvertently providing key details that enabled investigators to trace him back to his home in Waterbury, Connecticut.

Upon his arrest and subsequent trial, George Peter Metesky was found legally insane and committed to a state mental hospital. He was initially sent to Matteawan State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, a facility known for housing mentally ill offenders. Later, he was transferred to Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens, New York, where he remained until his release in 1973. He lived out the remainder of his life privately, passing away in 1994 at the age of 90.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Mad Bomber Case

Who was the Mad Bomber?
The Mad Bomber was George Peter Metesky, an American electrician and mechanic who terrorized New York City from 1940 to 1956 by planting explosives in public places due to a grievance over a workplace injury.
What was the Mad Bomber's motive?
Metesky's motive stemmed from deep-seated anger and resentment over a head injury he sustained at Consolidated Edison in 1931, for which he felt he never received proper compensation or justice.
How many bombs did the Mad Bomber plant?
George Peter Metesky planted at least 33 bombs, of which 22 exploded, injuring 15 people but causing no fatalities.
How was the Mad Bomber caught?
He was apprehended in 1957 after sending letters detailing his grievances to the New York Herald Tribune, which provided crucial clues that led investigators to his identity and location, aided by an innovative psychological profile developed by Dr. James A. Brussel.
What was the outcome of the Mad Bomber's case?
George Peter Metesky was found legally insane and committed to a state mental hospital. He was eventually released in 1973 and lived quietly until his death in 1994.