The “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski pleaded guilty to killing three people and injuring 23 others. He is serving a life sentence.

Former FBI Agent Candice DeLong was assigned to the investigation and shared an in-depth look with Crimejunkies...

WHEN DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE UNABOMBER INVESTIGATION?

In 1995, I was transfered from Chicago to San Francisco and was immediately assigned to work on the Unabomber case.  WIthin 4 months from my arrival, Ted Kaczynski became the prime suspect and a case that had lingered for 16 years was solved (thanks to David Kaczynski).

HOW MANY AGENTS WERE ASSIGNED TO THE INVESTIGATION?

At the peak of the investigation in 1995/1996, approximately 100 agents were assigned to the case, just in San Francisco. The FBI field divisions had agents covering leads on the case as well.

PRIOR TO KACZYNSKI, DID YOU HAVE ANY PERSONS OF INTEREST?

Just a few but none of them were really good suspects.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO KACZYNSKI'S BROTHER SAYING THAT HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A CHANCE THAT HE WAS THE UNABOMBER?

Well, many people had turned in someone they knew, an ex-husband, a former professor who gave them a bad grade, a mean neighbor. So when I saw the letter to the FBI from the attorney representing Dave Kaczynski, I thought, Oh! Another 'my brother did it' letter.  Nevertheless, the information contained in the letter was (obviously) taken seriously.

HOW LONG DID YOU MONITOR HIM BEFORE THE ARREST?

My partner and I went to Lincoln, Montana six weeks prior to the arrest to gather info on Kaczynski, gather evidence, and surveil him.

YOU WAITED WITH KACZYNSKI WHILE OTHER AGENTS SEARCHED HIS HOME. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE HIS BEHAVIOR? 

He was quiet, observant of us. He read the search warrant then refused to talk about the issue at hand. 

DID HE SAY ANYTHING TO YOU?

After a few hours, I made small talk with him.  I asked what it was like to live off the land and he gave me cooking lessons.  Too bad I don't care for boiled turnips.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE INSIDE OF HIS CABIN? 

It was very cluttered and dingy.  He had a make-shift shelf where he was actually working on a bomb when we knocked on his door and ruined his day.

DID YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW THE 700 PIECES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN FROM HIS CABIN?

No, but I saw some of it. I was not involved in the collection of evidence.

AND FINALLY, DID YOU EVER HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH HIM AFTER HIS ARREST?

No, he has only spoken to one person (other than his lawyers) and that was a writer for TIME magazine for an article on Kaczynski many years ago.