Luke Helder
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Lucas John Helder, a Wisconsin college student and Minnesota resident, earned notoriety as the midwestern pipe-bomber of May 2002. Helder tried to replicate a smiley face on the US map in his pattern of pipe bombs. His bombs were found in Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Texas and Colorado. Helder was captured before he completed the smile itself. When arrested he was wearing a Nirvana tee-shirt and had a smile on his face.
Luke Helder makes reference to reincarnation, and seems to believe that death of the flesh and body isn't the end of existence. He once wrote in an essay to the Badger Herald of the University of Wisconsin: "There is no such thing as death". Some have noted that Helder was born on May 5, 1981, the day when convicted IRA terrorist Bobby Sands died on hunger strike in prison.
There is no evidence that Helder's life or philosophies were inspired in any way, by the ideas, philosophy, or life of Sands.
His trial for the pipe bomb campaign has been repeatedly delayed, pending psychological reports. His attorney stated she intends to use an insanity defense if the trial goes ahead. (See February 2004 news report (http://www.kwqc.com/Global/story.asp?S=1645631).)
In April 2004 a federal judge found Helder incompetent to stand trial. While the judge could free Helder if doctors find he is not a threat to society, legal experts doubt this possibility, in consideration of the violent nature of his crime. Luke Helder, inmate #36460-048, remains in a federal medical center in Rochester, Minnesota. [1] (http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?s=1756862) [2] (http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?s=1767322)
External links
- Leader-Telegram about Helder's mailbox bombings (http://www.leadertelegram.com/SpecialReports/Helder/)
- Timeline of Helder's news (http://www.wqad.com/global/Story.asp?s=1261206)
- Essay Sent to the Badger Herald (http://www.spreadeagleranch.com/helder_essay.htm)