Ep 3. 20 Days of Terror: The Austin Bomber

In The FBI Declassified season 1 episode 3, viewers are taken on a journey to the city of Austin, Texas in March 2018 when a wave of bombings terrorized the city for 20 days straight. The Austin Bomber, as he came to be known, targeted random victims around the city with a series of deadly homemade bombs, leaving the community on edge and law enforcement officials scrambling to identify the perpetrator.

Through firsthand accounts from law enforcement officers, survivors, witnesses, and family members of those affected by the bombings, viewers gain a deeper insight into the complex investigation that ultimately led to the identification and death of the Austin Bomber. The episode details the tireless efforts of the FBI, ATF, and local law enforcement agencies who worked around the clock to track down the bomber and bring him to justice.

Viewers are introduced to the multi-agency task force that was formed to investigate the bombings, which includes agents from the FBI and ATF, as well as bomb technicians and forensic specialists. Using a combination of traditional investigative techniques and advanced forensic technologies, the task force sifted through mountains of evidence to identify the bomber's signature style and create a behavioral profile of the suspect.

The episode highlights the many challenges that law enforcement officials faced during the investigation, including the bomber's use of sophisticated and complex bomb-making techniques, his apparent lack of a clear motive, and his extreme caution in avoiding leaving any physical evidence behind. Viewers witness how the task force developed a strategy to catch the bomber that involved carefully analyzing his previous attacks, studying his online activity, and setting up surveillance at possible target locations.

Throughout the episode, viewers get a deep sense of the fear and uncertainty that gripped the city during the 20 Days of Terror, as eyewitnesses recount their harrowing experiences surviving the bombings and law enforcement officials describe the pressure of trying to solve an investigation that was evolving by the hour. The episode also sheds light on the extensive coordination and collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that was necessary to bring the case to a successful resolution.

Ultimately, with the help of citizen tips, high-tech surveillance, and old-fashioned police work, the bomber was identified as a local resident named Mark Conditt. In the episode, viewers learn about the tactics used to locate and apprehend the suspect, including a high-speed chase that ended with Conditt detonating a bomb and killing himself.

As with previous episodes of The FBI Declassified, the season 1 episode 3 provides a fascinating and in-depth look at a high-stakes criminal investigation and the tireless work of law enforcement officials to bring criminals to justice. With unprecedented access to sources at the forefront of the Austin bomber investigation, viewers will be kept on the edge of their seats as they learn the gripping details of this real-life crime story.