Crime Library: Criminal Minds and Methods

GEORGE METESKY: NEW YORK's MAD BOMBER

Aftermath

The Metesky case proved to be a feather in Inspector Finney's cap. He continued his stellar career and later became a well-known corruption buster.

The case catapulted Dr. Brussel to fame, and he was often called in as a consultant on the nation's most troubling unsolved cases. With varying levels of success, he worked on the Wylie Murders, the Coppolino Case, the Sunday Bomber and most notably the case of the Boston Strangler. His work forever changed the way police forces catch criminals. For better or worse, profiling is now an integral part of modern police work.

Metesky in Matteawan asylum.
Metesky in Matteawan asylum.

George Metesky, who fit Brussel's profile in every detail, was found insane and committed to the Matteawan asylum for the criminally insane. As is the case with most acute paranoids, he was unresponsive to treatment believing the psychiatrists were part of the conspiracy against him. He proved to be a model patient and spent much of his time trying to legally win his release.

Dr. Brussel, who sometimes worked at Matteawan, visited Metesky occasionally. Dr. Brussel always found him talkative and charming. Metesky often pointed out that he'd purposefully constructed his bombs not to kill anyone. Dr. Brussel once asked him directly if he thought he was crazy. Metesky smiled politely and answered no.

George Metesky's actions went on to inspire new criminals. Investigators believe that both the Unabomber and the Zodiac Killer took inspiration from New York City's mad bomber. Upon his release from Matteawan in 1973, Metesky took up residence in his family's Waterbury residence where he died in 1994 at the age of 90. His death did not make the papers.

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