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| Ricin found during investigation into poison letters sent to Obama | Ricin found during investigation into poison letters sent to Obama |
| (8 days later) | |
| Ricin was found in the former martial arts studio of the man suspected of sending poison letters to Barack Obama and other officials, prosecutors have said. | Ricin was found in the former martial arts studio of the man suspected of sending poison letters to Barack Obama and other officials, prosecutors have said. |
| The affidavit, made public on Tuesday, says an FBI surveillance team saw James Everett Dutschke remove several items from the studio in Mississippi on 22 April and dump them in a rubbish bin down the street. The items included a dust mask that later tested positive for ricin, it said. | The affidavit, made public on Tuesday, says an FBI surveillance team saw James Everett Dutschke remove several items from the studio in Mississippi on 22 April and dump them in a rubbish bin down the street. The items included a dust mask that later tested positive for ricin, it said. |
| Traces of ricin also were found in the studio, and Dutschke used the internet to buy castor beans, from which the poison is derived, the court document added. | Traces of ricin also were found in the studio, and Dutschke used the internet to buy castor beans, from which the poison is derived, the court document added. |
| Dutschke, 41, was arrested on Saturday as part of the investigation into poison-tainted letters sent to Obama, Senator Roger Wicker and Judge Sadie Holland in Mississippi. Dutschke faces up to life in prison if convicted. | Dutschke, 41, was arrested on Saturday as part of the investigation into poison-tainted letters sent to Obama, Senator Roger Wicker and Judge Sadie Holland in Mississippi. Dutschke faces up to life in prison if convicted. |
| The FBI has not yet revealed details about how lethal the ricin was. A Senate official has said the ricin was not weaponised, meaning the toxin was not in a form that could easily enter the body. If inhaled, ricin can cause respiratory failure, and no antidote exists. | The FBI has not yet revealed details about how lethal the ricin was. A Senate official has said the ricin was not weaponised, meaning the toxin was not in a form that could easily enter the body. If inhaled, ricin can cause respiratory failure, and no antidote exists. |
| Dutschke told the Associated Press last week that he did not send the letters. | Dutschke told the Associated Press last week that he did not send the letters. |
| Attention turned to him after prosecutors dropped charges against an Elvis impersonator who says he had argued with Dutschke in the past. | Attention turned to him after prosecutors dropped charges against an Elvis impersonator who says he had argued with Dutschke in the past. |
| The affidavit said that on the evening of 31 December, someone using Dutschke's computer "downloaded a publication, Standard Operating Procedure for Ricin, which describes safe handling and storage methods for ricin, and approximately two hours later, Immunochromotography Detection of Ricin in Environmental and Biological Samples, which describes a method for detecting ricin." | The affidavit said that on the evening of 31 December, someone using Dutschke's computer "downloaded a publication, Standard Operating Procedure for Ricin, which describes safe handling and storage methods for ricin, and approximately two hours later, Immunochromotography Detection of Ricin in Environmental and Biological Samples, which describes a method for detecting ricin." |
| The affidavit also said numerous documents found in Dutschke's home had "trashmarks" that were similar to those on the letters sent to the officials. "Trashmarks are flaws or marks that come from dirt, scratches, or other marks on the printer. They are transferred to each piece of paper that is run through the printer," it said. | The affidavit also said numerous documents found in Dutschke's home had "trashmarks" that were similar to those on the letters sent to the officials. "Trashmarks are flaws or marks that come from dirt, scratches, or other marks on the printer. They are transferred to each piece of paper that is run through the printer," it said. |
| A witness, who is not named in the document, told investigators that Dutschke once said he knew how to make poison that could be sent to elected officials and "whoever opened these envelopes containing the poison would die". | A witness, who is not named in the document, told investigators that Dutschke once said he knew how to make poison that could be sent to elected officials and "whoever opened these envelopes containing the poison would die". |
| Holland dismissed a civil suit that Dutschke filed in 2006 against the witness, who accused him of making sexual advances toward the witness's daughter, the affidavit said. In April, Dutschke pleaded not guilty to two child molestation charges involving three girls under the age of 16. He was also appealing against a conviction on a different charge of indecent exposure. He told Associated Press his lawyer told him not to comment on those cases. | Holland dismissed a civil suit that Dutschke filed in 2006 against the witness, who accused him of making sexual advances toward the witness's daughter, the affidavit said. In April, Dutschke pleaded not guilty to two child molestation charges involving three girls under the age of 16. He was also appealing against a conviction on a different charge of indecent exposure. He told Associated Press his lawyer told him not to comment on those cases. |
| Dutschke's MySpace page has several pictures with him and Wicker. Republicans in Mississippi say Dutschke used to frequently show up at events. | Dutschke's MySpace page has several pictures with him and Wicker. Republicans in Mississippi say Dutschke used to frequently show up at events. |
| The first suspect accused by the FBI, Paul Kevin Curtis, 45, was arrested on 17 April, but the charges were dropped six days later. After his arrest, Curtis said he was framed and gave investigators Dutschke's name as someone who could have sent the letters, the affidavit said. | The first suspect accused by the FBI, Paul Kevin Curtis, 45, was arrested on 17 April, but the charges were dropped six days later. After his arrest, Curtis said he was framed and gave investigators Dutschke's name as someone who could have sent the letters, the affidavit said. |
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