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FBI and Santa Cruz Police Department Seek Assistance from the Public in Identifying 2008 Firebombers

FBI San Francisco August 02, 2010
  • Public Affairs Specialist Sharon Hadden (415) 553-7400

Two years after firebombs forced one University of California researcher and his family to flee their home and another destroyed a researcher’s car, the FBI and Santa Cruz Police Department are still searching for those responsible. The FBI is still offering a $20,000 reward in addition to the $30,000 offered by the City of Santa Cruz for any information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.

Early in the morning August 2, 2008, two firebombs detonated outside the homes of two University of California Santa Cruz researchers. The first bomb exploded at the front door of Professor David Feldheim’s home. The professor was home asleep, along with his wife and two young children. The fire bomb engulfed the main entrance to their home, so Professor Feldheim and his family had to escape through a second story window. Dr. Feldheim received minor injuries during the family’s escape.

The second bomb completely destroyed another researcher’s Volvo station wagon parked in his driveway. The professor, his wife, and son were home at the time, although none of them were injured.

Earlier the same week as the bombings, flyers entitled, “Animal Abusers Everywhere Beware We Know Where You Live We Know Where You Work We Will Never Back Down Until You End Your Abuse” were distributed at several locations around Santa Cruz. These flyers listed names and home addresses for several University of California researchers, including Dr. Feldheim. At least one of the addresses on the flyer belonged to an individual who was not a researcher at all, but merely shared the same name.

The FBI and Santa Cruz Police encourage anyone with any information about these attacks to contact the FBI at 415-553-7400, or Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations at 831-420-5820 or on their website (http://www.santacruzpolice.com).

Media inquiries can be directed to FBI Special Agent Joseph M. Schadler, Public Affairs Specialist Patti Hansen at 415-553-7450, or SCPD Officer Zach Friend at 831-420-5810.