David Kaczynski to lead anti-death penalty group

Albany. N.Y.

David Kaczynski, who helped authorities identify his brother as the Unabomber and then fought to save him from a death sentence, has been chosen as the executive director of an anti-death penalty group.

Kaczynski, of Schenectady, was to be formally introduced today in his new role with the nonprofit group New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty, spokeswoman Colleen Ryan said.

Theodore Kaczynski pleaded guilty in 1998 to three mail bomb murders and 23 non-fatal mail bombings he said were part of an anti-technology campaign. He is serving a life sentence.

In 1996. David Kaczynski and his wife. Linda Patrik, alerted authorities that they believed Theodore Kaczynski was the Unabomber after they had read his 35,000 word published “manifesto.” The couple fought—against Theodore Kaczynski’s wishes—for a plea bargain to save him from the death penalty.

Since then, the couple has criticized capital punishment and executing mentally ill criminals.