He was arrested in 2002 as a suspect in pipe bombings in mailboxes, which injured several people. In 2004, he was found mentally incompetent to stand trial and is still incarcerated in a federal medical facility.
In 2002, while attending the University of Wisconsin–Stout, Helder planned to plant pipe bombs in mailboxes across the United States to create a smiley face shape on the United States map.[1] The bombs, which were packed with BBs and nails, were rigged to explode as the mailboxes were opened. Completed and rigged bombs were found in Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, Illinois and Iowa. In Iowa, six people, including four mail carriers, were injured when the bombs detonated.[2] Ultimately, Helder planted 18 bombs and covered 3,200 miles (5,100 km).[3]
He was stopped by police in Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Colorado for speeding and failure to wear a seat belt, but was not arrested.[4] Eventually he was captured in rural Nevada before he managed to complete the full smile. At the time of his arrest, police were looking for an unknown suspect driving a black Honda Accord. Many newspapers reported that he was wearing a Kurt Cobain T-shirt.[5] The bombings were widely covered by the US news media.
Helder was not at the top of his college class, but his professors described him as a reasonably good, quiet and polite student, and at first there was confusion as to what the motivation for the bombings could be.[3] Family, friends, and many acquaintances referred to Helder as normal and without a propensity to hurt people.[6][7] But his roommate noted that Helder had recently become obsessed with death, had begun smoking marijuana,[6] and had been reciting extended monologues about his new spiritual beliefs to his friends (which they had mostly "laughed off").[7]
Within the year prior to his arrest, Helder had become passionate about astral projection techniques and came to believe that death of the flesh and body is not the end of existence, as evidenced by the manifesto he sent to The Badger Herald of the University of Wisconsin–Madison at the beginning of the bombing spree.[3] The essay also includes statements such as
"I'm taking very drastic measure in attempt to provide this information to you... I will die/change in the end for this, but that's ok, hahaha paradise awaits! I'm dismissing a few individuals from reality, to change all of you for the better"[8][9]
Notes attached to the bombs denounced government control over daily lives, denied that anyone who had died was really dead, and promised more of the same kind of message.[3]
Trialedit
In April 2004, a federal judge found Helder incompetent to stand trial.[10] While a judge could free Helder if doctors find he is not a threat to society, legal experts doubt this possibility due to the violent nature of his crimes. He has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder.[11]
Prior to his bombing spree, Helder was a member of Apathy, a Rochester, Minnesota, three-piece grunge band. Although the band was successful only on a local scale, they recorded a CD, Sacks of People, at the end of their first summer together. They funded and released the album themselves. Helder was a fan of Kurt Cobain. He heavily decorated his dorm room with Nirvana (Cobain's band) posters and ephemera. A bandmate in Apathy remarked Helder had "an interesting style of singing" and would write much of the lyrics of the group's tracks, not having a full understanding of their meaning.[14][15]
When the news broke that Helder was the pipe bomber, the media made significant mention of his status as a musician.[16] Many music critics scrambled to acquire copies of Apathy's CD, some of which were auctioned on eBay for as much as $200.
^"Who Might Be Behind The Austin Bombings?". TPR.org. Texas Public Radio. March 20, 2018. from the original on 22 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
^. USPS.com. US Postal Service. 2002. Archived from the original on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
^ abcdReaves, Jessica (May 9, 2002). . Time. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23.
^"Pipe Bomb Suspect's Grungy Past". The Smoking Gun. April 8, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
^"Dad aids son's capture". Leader-Telegram. Eau Claire Press Company. 2002. from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
^ ab"Pipe Bomb Suspect Is Described". AP News. May 8, 2002. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
^ ab"Bomb Suspect Gave Few Hints Of Violent Plan". The New York Times. May 9, 2002. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
^"Pipe Bomb Suspect's Grungy Past". The Smoking Gun. May 7, 2002. from the original on 22 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
^Lagorio, Christine. "News Analysis: Newspapers receipt of shady mail a daily occurrence." The Badger Herald May 10, 2002
^Van Hyfte, Vanessa (2004). . WQAD Report. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
^Foley, Ryan (2013-05-18). "Victim of mailbox bombing hopes suspect gets well". Post Bulletin. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
^staff (May 15, 2013). "Minnesotan in 2002's 'smiley face bomber' case could finally face trial". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. from the original on 22 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
^Vanessa (April 6, 2004). . WQAD Report. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
^"Alleged Pipe Bomber a Huge Kurt Cobain Fan". NME. May 8, 2002. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
^"Bandmate doesn't think Helder 'out to get the government'". Post Bulletin. May 8, 2002. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
^Feldman, Charles (May 9, 2002). . CNN.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
The Smoking Gun archive on Luke Helder, with the six-page manifesto
October 27, 2023
luke, helder, lucas, john, helder, born, 1981, also, known, midwest, pipe, bomber, american, domestic, terrorist, former, university, wisconsin, stout, student, from, pine, island, minnesota, helder, mugshotbornlucas, john, helder, 1981, 1981, pine, island, mi. Lucas John Helder born May 5 1981 also known as the Midwest Pipe Bomber is an American domestic terrorist and former University of Wisconsin Stout student from Pine Island Minnesota Luke HelderHelder s FBI mugshotBornLucas John Helder 1981 05 05 May 5 1981 age 42 Pine Island MinnesotaOccupation s Student MusicianCriminal statusIncompetent to stand trial committed to Federal Bureau of Prisons mental health centerCriminal chargeMailbox pipe bombingHe was arrested in 2002 as a suspect in pipe bombings in mailboxes which injured several people In 2004 he was found mentally incompetent to stand trial and is still incarcerated in a federal medical facility Contents 1 Bombings 2 Personality writings and theories 3 Trial 4 Musical background 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBombings editIn 2002 while attending the University of Wisconsin Stout Helder planned to plant pipe bombs in mailboxes across the United States to create a smiley face shape on the United States map 1 The bombs which were packed with BBs and nails were rigged to explode as the mailboxes were opened Completed and rigged bombs were found in Nebraska Colorado Texas Illinois and Iowa In Iowa six people including four mail carriers were injured when the bombs detonated 2 Ultimately Helder planted 18 bombs and covered 3 200 miles 5 100 km 3 He was stopped by police in Nebraska Oklahoma and Colorado for speeding and failure to wear a seat belt but was not arrested 4 Eventually he was captured in rural Nevada before he managed to complete the full smile At the time of his arrest police were looking for an unknown suspect driving a black Honda Accord Many newspapers reported that he was wearing a Kurt Cobain T shirt 5 The bombings were widely covered by the US news media Personality writings and theories edit nbsp Helder performing with Apathy in his hometown of Pine Island MinnesotaHelder was not at the top of his college class but his professors described him as a reasonably good quiet and polite student and at first there was confusion as to what the motivation for the bombings could be 3 Family friends and many acquaintances referred to Helder as normal and without a propensity to hurt people 6 7 But his roommate noted that Helder had recently become obsessed with death had begun smoking marijuana 6 and had been reciting extended monologues about his new spiritual beliefs to his friends which they had mostly laughed off 7 Within the year prior to his arrest Helder had become passionate about astral projection techniques and came to believe that death of the flesh and body is not the end of existence as evidenced by the manifesto he sent to The Badger Herald of the University of Wisconsin Madison at the beginning of the bombing spree 3 The essay also includes statements such as I m taking very drastic measure in attempt to provide this information to you I will die change in the end for this but that s ok hahaha paradise awaits I m dismissing a few individuals from reality to change all of you for the better 8 9 Notes attached to the bombs denounced government control over daily lives denied that anyone who had died was really dead and promised more of the same kind of message 3 Trial editIn April 2004 a federal judge found Helder incompetent to stand trial 10 While a judge could free Helder if doctors find he is not a threat to society legal experts doubt this possibility due to the violent nature of his crimes He has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder 11 In 2013 a federal judge ordered Helder re evaluated for competency to stand trial 12 Helder remains incarcerated in the Federal Medical Center in Rochester Minnesota 13 Musical background editSacks of PeopleStudio album by ApathyReleased2001StudioLast Minute RecordsGenreAlternative RockGrungeLength43 54ProducerMichael ThompsonPrior to his bombing spree Helder was a member of Apathy a Rochester Minnesota three piece grunge band Although the band was successful only on a local scale they recorded a CD Sacks of People at the end of their first summer together They funded and released the album themselves Helder was a fan of Kurt Cobain He heavily decorated his dorm room with Nirvana Cobain s band posters and ephemera A bandmate in Apathy remarked Helder had an interesting style of singing and would write much of the lyrics of the group s tracks not having a full understanding of their meaning 14 15 When the news broke that Helder was the pipe bomber the media made significant mention of his status as a musician 16 Many music critics scrambled to acquire copies of Apathy s CD some of which were auctioned on eBay for as much as 200 See also editImprovised explosive device Ted Kaczynski Austin serial bombingsReferences edit Who Might Be Behind The Austin Bombings TPR org Texas Public Radio March 20 2018 Archived from the original on 22 March 2018 Retrieved 21 March 2018 2002 Annual Report of Investigations Violent Crime USPS com US Postal Service 2002 Archived from the original on 2007 09 26 Retrieved 2007 10 16 a b c d Reaves Jessica May 9 2002 Person of the Week Lucas Helder Time Archived from the original on 2012 10 23 Pipe Bomb Suspect s Grungy Past The Smoking Gun April 8 2011 Retrieved February 15 2023 Dad aids son s capture Leader Telegram Eau Claire Press Company 2002 Archived from the original on 2007 09 27 Retrieved 2007 10 16 a b Pipe Bomb Suspect Is Described AP News May 8 2002 Retrieved 12 June 2021 a b Bomb Suspect Gave Few Hints Of Violent Plan The New York Times May 9 2002 Retrieved 12 June 2021 Pipe Bomb Suspect s Grungy Past The Smoking Gun May 7 2002 Archived from the original on 22 March 2018 Retrieved 21 March 2018 Lagorio Christine News Analysis Newspapers receipt of shady mail a daily occurrence The Badger Herald May 10 2002 Van Hyfte Vanessa 2004 Helder not fit to stand trial WQAD Report Archived from the original on 2007 09 27 Retrieved 2018 03 21 Foley Ryan 2013 05 18 Victim of mailbox bombing hopes suspect gets well Post Bulletin Retrieved 2017 01 31 staff May 15 2013 Minnesotan in 2002 s smiley face bomber case could finally face trial Twin Cities Pioneer Press Archived from the original on 22 March 2018 Retrieved 21 March 2018 Vanessa April 6 2004 Experts say mailbox bomb suspect unlikely to be freed soon WQAD Report Archived from the original on September 27 2007 Retrieved 2007 10 16 Alleged Pipe Bomber a Huge Kurt Cobain Fan NME May 8 2002 Retrieved 12 June 2021 Bandmate doesn t think Helder out to get the government Post Bulletin May 8 2002 Retrieved 12 June 2021 Feldman Charles May 9 2002 Feds Suspect admitted pipe bomb spree CNN com Archived from the original on November 17 2007 Retrieved 2007 10 17 External links editTimeline of Helder s news dead link WQAD TV The Smoking Gun archive on Luke Helder with the six page manifesto Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Luke Helder amp oldid 1180221347, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
