This episode appears to be based on the
Ted Kaczynski (a.k.a. "The Unabomber") case. Kaczynski was an American domestic terrorist, anarchist, and mathematical prodigy who, between 1978 and 1995, engaged in a nationwide bombing campaign against people involved with modern technology, planting or mailing numerous homemade bombs, ultimately killing a total of three people and injuring 23 others. He is also known for his wide-ranging social critiques, which opposed industrialization and modern technology while advancing a nature-centered form of anarchism. He became well-known for sending bombs with false return addresses that belonged to real people, and was the target of one of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's costliest investigations. Before Kaczynski's identity was known, the FBI used the title "UNABOM" (UNiversity & Airline BOMber) to refer to his case, which resulted in the media calling him the Unabomber. The FBI (as well as Attorney General Janet Reno) pushed for the publication of Kaczynski's "manifesto", which led his sister-in-law and then his brother to recognize Kaczynski's style of writing and beliefs, and they tipped off the FBI. Kaczynski tried unsuccessfully to dismiss his court-appointed lawyers because they wanted to plead insanity in order to avoid the death penalty, as Kaczynski did not believe he was insane. When it became clear that his pending trial would entail national television exposure for Kaczynski, the court entered a plea agreement, under which he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. Although Kaczynski was arrested two years after the episode aired, he interestingly shares some similarities with the defendant: both were disgruntled scientific geniuses, had thick beards, lived simple lifestyles, and eventually targeted scientists in bombings.
A striking resemblance exists between the defendant and Kaczynski. Both were Ivy League-educated geniuses with very high IQs, though both suffered from long-term mental illness. Both were overzealous crusaders against progress. Both were ultimately apprehended by their own brothers turning them in upon recognizing their writings sent to the newspapers--letters in Odell's case, while the Unabomber submitted a manifesto.
