Webloggin » Suspect in Anthrax Investigation Dies of Overdose

Army scientist Bruce E. Ivins, age 62, a biodefense researcher at Fort Detrick, died this week of a reported suicide [with a prescription painkiller, Tylenol mixed with codeine]. Now we hear he was on the verge of indictment in the anthrax mailings cases. If guilty, what was his motive??? Publicity? Attention?

His attorney, Paul F. Kemp, says, ““For six years, Dr. Ivins fully cooperated with that investigation, assisting the government in every way that was asked of him,” … “The relentless pressure of accusation and innuendo takes its toll in different ways on different people, as has already been seen in this investigation. In Dr. Ivins’ case, it led to his untimely death.””

… apparently killed himself with a drug overdose as the FBI ratcheted up the pressure against him.

As a microbiologist at the Army’s main lab for studying bioterror agents, Ivins labored for years on the development of anthrax vaccines and had access to various strains of the anthrax bacteria, including the one used in attacks on media outlets and Congressional offices in the fall of 2001. Because of his unusual expertise, he was even tapped by federal investigators to help with the technical analysis of the fine, wispy powder used in the attacks.

At the time, he was relatively unknown in the bioweapons community, even among the small circle of American experts specializing in anthrax. Colleagues described him as quiet, socially awkward and emotionally sensitive. [snip]

Ivins tested dozens of samples from a changing room, his own office and a passbox through which anthrax was sent into a secured laboratory. He reported that he found heavy growth of Ames-strain anthrax, a disease-causing form of the agent that had been found in the Daschle letter, in the passbox. He said he also found it in his personal office.

The men’s changing room also tested positive for Ames spores as well as another strain used at Detrick, Vollum 1B. (continue reading at Washington Post)

Many questions surround this person and the entire investigation. No suicide note was found, according to Fox News. His friends and co-workers seem to have nothing but good things to say about him. The investigation documents are sealed.

In other news: The blog The Thunder Run has been blocked by Blogger/Google, just one more blog in a long line. Probably someone was offended at something the author wrote. Until he gets things straightened out, David will be posting at ARRRRGH!

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