Helder

Bizarre motive alleged in blasts

SCOTT SONNER, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published Friday, May 10, 2002

RENO, Nev. -- The 21-year-old college art student accused of putting pipe bombs in mailboxes in five states told authorities he was trying to make a "smiley face" pattern on the map, a sheriff said Thursday.

The first 16 bombs were arranged in two circles, one in Illinois and Iowa and the other in Nebraska. On a map, the circles could resemble the eyes of the popular 1970s happiness symbol. The final two bombs, found in Colorado and Texas, form an arc that could be the beginning of a smile.

"There was a comment made to one of my officers about his hope to make a smiley face when he was all finished," Pershing County Sheriff Ron Skinner said.

Skinner said Luke Helder made the comments to an undercover county officer shortly after his arrest outside Reno on Tuesday.

"His demeanor was very jovial. He didn't seem to be taking anything seriously at the time," the sheriff said.

Helder's parents, Cameron and Pamela Helder, met with their son at the county jail in Reno for a half-hour.

Helder faces federal charges in Illinois, Nebraska, Nevada and Iowa, where he will be taken today for a court appearance. U.S. Magistrate Robert McQuaid Jr. denied a request to release Helder to the custody of his parents.

If convicted, Helder could be sent to prison for life.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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