Oklahoma City bomber's Real Name: Timothy James McVeigh

Quick answer: The Oklahoma City bomber's real name was Timothy James McVeigh. He was born on April 23, 1968. Biography.com says he was born in Lockport, New York, and grew up in nearby Pendleton; Britannica says he was born in Pendleton. He was convicted for the Oklahoma City bombing of April 19, 1995, sentenced to death, and executed on June 11, 2001, in Terre Haute, Indiana (Biography.com; Britannica).

Real name and early life

Biography.com gives his full name as Timothy James McVeigh and the birth date as April 23, 1968. His parents were Mildred and William McVeigh, and he grew up with two sisters, Jennifer and Patricia. After his parents divorced he lived with his father. Britannica describes him as the middle child in a blue-collar family in rural New York state. He graduated from high school in June 1986, briefly attended a local business college, and then left school.

In 1988 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Persian Gulf War, earning a Bronze Star, Biography.com says. He later left the service and was discharged in 1991.

Career highlights

Conviction and execution

McVeigh was convicted for the Oklahoma City bombing of April 19, 1995, an attack Britannica describes as having killed 168 people. Biography.com says a five-week trial began in April 1997. After about 23 hours of deliberation, a jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to death. Later requests for an appeal and a new trial were rejected. The following year, Terry Nichols, a co-defendant, was sentenced to life in prison. Biography.com also notes that Michael Fortier, who testified against McVeigh and Nichols, was sentenced in 1998 and later released.

On June 11, 2001, McVeigh was executed by lethal injection at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana. Biography.com says the execution was the first federal execution in 38 years. He was 33.

This page records the documented name and the legal outcome. It does not describe how the bombing was carried out.

Name notes for searchers

Timothy James McVeigh was his full given name; he is often referred to simply as Timothy McVeigh or as the Oklahoma City bomber. The slug for this page follows the nickname form used in search. He should not be confused with other people named McVeigh.