Suspect in anthrax-letter deaths kills himself

[Allhallowsday]

Suspect in anthrax-letter deaths kills himself    

WASHINGTON - Anthrax-laced letters that killed five people and severely rattled the post-9/11 nation may have been part of an Army scientist's warped plan to test his cure for the deadly toxin, officials said Friday. The brilliant but troubled scientist committed suicide this week, knowing prosecutors were closing in.

The sudden naming of scientist Bruce E. Ivins as the top — and perhaps only — suspect in the anthrax attacks marks the latest bizarre twist in a case that has confounded the FBI for nearly seven years. Last month, the Justice Department cleared Ivins' colleague, Steven Hatfill, who had been wrongly suspected in the case, and paid him $5.8 million.

Ivins worked at the Army's biological warfare labs at Fort Detrick, Md., for 18 years until his death on Tuesday. He was one of the government's leading scientists researching vaccines and cures for anthrax exposure. But he also had a long history of homicidal threats, according to papers filed last week in local court by a social worker.

The letters contained anthrax powder were sent on the heels of the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and turned up at congressional offices, newsrooms and elsewhere, leaving a deadly trail through post offices on the way. The powder killed five and sent numerous victims to hospitals and caused near panic in many locations.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080801/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/anthrax_scientist

[indianasmith]

It sounds like, after the spectacular collapse of their case against Hatfill, the FBI had been playing this one very close to the vest for a long time.  Wonder if the man left any kind of confession or suicide note?

[Psycho Circus]

Suicide.....so that's what they're calling the FBI these days!

[BoyScoutKevin]

Just another update. The man's funeral was held today and none of his friends and family who attended the funeral could reconcile the man they knew with the man who sent those anthrax-letters.

I wonder if the man's older brother attended the funeral. When they interviewed the brother on NPR (National Public Radio) he had nothing good to say about his younger brother. And, indeed, it had been years since he even saw his brother.