Murderland Chicago: A Deep Dish of Death

An exploration of how Chicago has created some of the most notorious serial killers and murders in America. Unpacking the "socio" in "sociopath," Jonathan Sanchez Leos and Meridith Halsey investigate how the ecological urban landscape of Chicago provided the perfect background for some of the most heinous crimes ever.

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Murderland Chicago: A Deep Dish of Death

26: Ted Kaczynski Part I

March 24, 2026 • Jonathan Sanchez Leos and Meridith Halsey • Season 4 • Episode 2

0:00 | 1:59:44

We kick off season 4 with the first of a multi-part series on Ted Kaczynski (aka the Unabomber); in this episode we discuss Kaczynski’s working class roots as a member of the Polish community on the South Side of Chicago and his journey through the academic world (Harvard —> UMich —> UCBerkley).

TW: Death by suicide

Recommended reading / watching:

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
The Manchurian Candidate, directed by John Frankenheimer

Research sources include:

Cruz Lat, Emelyn. “ Kaczynski: Childhood of Rage.” SFGate, 2 Nov. 1997, https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Kaczynski-Childhood-of-rage-3091103.php.

“Hospital Incident Haunts Unabomber Suspect’s Mother.” Tampa Bay Times, https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1996/06/17/hospital-incident-haunts-unabomber-suspect-s-mother/. Accessed 22 June 2025.

“David Kaczynski: ‘Every Last Tie: The Story Of The Unabomber And His Family.’” Diane Rehm, https://dianerehm.org/shows/2016-01-28/david-kaczynski-every-last-tie-the-story-of-the-unabomber-and-his-family. Accessed 22 June 2025.

Theodore Richard “Turk” Kaczynski (1912-1990) -... https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/213155567/theodore_richard-kaczynski. Accessed 23 June 2025.

Wanda Teresa Dombek Kaczynski (1917-2011) - Find... https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/207475370/wanda_teresa-kaczynski. Accessed 23 June 2025.

Jakub Kaczynski (1865-1943) - Find a Grave... https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/108871364/jakub-kaczynski. Accessed 23 June 2025.

Helen Alchimowicz Kaczynski (1886-1976) - Find a... https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182219271/helen-kaczynski. Accessed 23 June 2025.

Editors, HISTORY com. “Unabomber (Ted Kaczynski) - Manifesto, Cabin, Victims.” HISTORY, 14 May 2018, https://www.history.com/articles/unabomber-ted-kaczynski.

“‘Unabomber’ Ted Kaczynski Died by Suicide, Official Says.” NBC News, 12 June 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/unabomber-cause-death-rcna88737.

“‘Unabomber’ Ted Kaczynski Had Late-Stage Rectal Cancer and Was ‘Depressed’ before Prison Suicide, Autopsy Says.” NBC News, 17 Apr. 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/unabomber-ted-kaczynski-late-stage-rectal-cancer-was-depressed-prison-rcna147819.

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Jonathan Sanchez Leos

Host

Meridith Halsey

Host