William Tager
Encyclopedia
William Tager is a Charlotte, North Carolina
, man who murdered NBC employee Campbell Montgomery because of his belief that television networks were watching him and sending him signals. He was later alleged to have assaulted television journalist and newsreader Dan Rather
.
by one or two men, presumed to have been mentally disturbed
, who repeatedly yelled "Kenneth, what is the frequency?" The assailant or assailants were not apprehended or identified at the time. This event was the inspiration for a number of songs, the best-known of which is "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
" by the band R.E.M.
, outside of the stage of the Today show. Tager had attempted to enter the Today studios carrying a weapon; Montgomery died preventing Tager access to the studios. Police apprehended Tager after the shooting.
Tager stated he believed that television networks were monitoring him and beaming messages into his head. Prosecutors brought first degree murder charges against Tager.
to examine him. Welner diagnosed Tager to be suffering from schizophrenia and the effects of a head injury. In the course of Dr. Welner’s study, he revealed numerous objective data confirming delusional thinking, for example that Tager had stopped in Scranton, Pennsylvania
for a haircut because he believed that he would otherwise be recognized when he came to New York. Psychiatrist Dr. Park Dietz
interviewed Tager for the prosecution, after reviewing Dr. Welner’s findings. After reviewing the findings of both reports, prosecutors offered a plea to downgraded charges of first degree manslaughter, which the defense accepted.
prison in New York
state. Tager was denied parole
in 2007; he was released on parole in October 2010. Under his release conditions, he must live in New York City and undergo substance abuse testing and mental health counseling.
Some have questioned Tager's involvement in Rather's assault. In their initial reports, Rather and two other witnesses stated that Rather was assaulted by two men. In Dr. Welner’s examination, he confirmed Tager’s involvement by eliciting admissions that would have only been known to the defendant and then investigating the assault scene. After reviewing Welner’s discoveries, Dietz interviewed Rather, who identified Tager as the assailant and said that a second man had been present during the assault but had not participated in it. None of the documents related to Tager's parole, which were released through New York State's Freedom of Information law, refers to the Rather incident.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, man who murdered NBC employee Campbell Montgomery because of his belief that television networks were watching him and sending him signals. He was later alleged to have assaulted television journalist and newsreader Dan Rather
Dan Rather
Daniel Irvin "Dan" Rather, Jr. is an American journalist and the former news anchor for the CBS Evening News. He is now managing editor and anchor of the television news magazine Dan Rather Reports on the cable channel HDNet. Rather was anchor of the CBS Evening News for 24 years, from March 9,...
.
Attack on Dan Rather
On October 4, 1986, Rather was attacked on Park AvenuePark Avenue (Manhattan)
Park Avenue is a wide boulevard that carries north and southbound traffic in New York City borough of Manhattan. Through most of its length, it runs parallel to Madison Avenue to the west and Lexington Avenue to the east....
by one or two men, presumed to have been mentally disturbed
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
, who repeatedly yelled "Kenneth, what is the frequency?" The assailant or assailants were not apprehended or identified at the time. This event was the inspiration for a number of songs, the best-known of which is "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
"What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" is a song by the American alternative rock group R.E.M. from their 1994 album Monster. It was the first single taken from the album, released three weeks later. It peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart. Due to its...
" by the band R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
1994 shooting
On August 31, 1994, Tager shot and killed Campbell Theron Montgomery, a technician employed by NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, outside of the stage of the Today show. Tager had attempted to enter the Today studios carrying a weapon; Montgomery died preventing Tager access to the studios. Police apprehended Tager after the shooting.
Tager stated he believed that television networks were monitoring him and beaming messages into his head. Prosecutors brought first degree murder charges against Tager.
Murder case
The defense raised an insanity defense, and retained Dr. Michael WelnerMichael Welner
Michael Mark Welner, M.D., is an American Forensic Psychiatrist. He is founder and Chairman of The Forensic Panel, a forensic science practice, is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine and an Adjunct Professor of Law Duquesne University School of Law...
to examine him. Welner diagnosed Tager to be suffering from schizophrenia and the effects of a head injury. In the course of Dr. Welner’s study, he revealed numerous objective data confirming delusional thinking, for example that Tager had stopped in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
for a haircut because he believed that he would otherwise be recognized when he came to New York. Psychiatrist Dr. Park Dietz
Park Dietz
Park Elliott Dietz is a forensic psychiatrist and criminologist who was educated at Cornell University and Johns Hopkins University...
interviewed Tager for the prosecution, after reviewing Dr. Welner’s findings. After reviewing the findings of both reports, prosecutors offered a plea to downgraded charges of first degree manslaughter, which the defense accepted.
Sentence
On November 29, 1996, Tager was given a sentence of 15 to 25 years. he was incarcerated in Sing SingSing Sing
Sing Sing Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison operated by the New York State Department of Correctional Services in the town of Ossining, New York...
prison in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state. Tager was denied parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
in 2007; he was released on parole in October 2010. Under his release conditions, he must live in New York City and undergo substance abuse testing and mental health counseling.
Some have questioned Tager's involvement in Rather's assault. In their initial reports, Rather and two other witnesses stated that Rather was assaulted by two men. In Dr. Welner’s examination, he confirmed Tager’s involvement by eliciting admissions that would have only been known to the defendant and then investigating the assault scene. After reviewing Welner’s discoveries, Dietz interviewed Rather, who identified Tager as the assailant and said that a second man had been present during the assault but had not participated in it. None of the documents related to Tager's parole, which were released through New York State's Freedom of Information law, refers to the Rather incident.
See also
- Dan RatherDan RatherDaniel Irvin "Dan" Rather, Jr. is an American journalist and the former news anchor for the CBS Evening News. He is now managing editor and anchor of the television news magazine Dan Rather Reports on the cable channel HDNet. Rather was anchor of the CBS Evening News for 24 years, from March 9,...
section "Kenneth, what is the frequency?"