Best views, weather, etc. How to test them 👓 SC, Ala. sites look back Betty Ford honored
NEWS
Barack Obama

FBI says tests link deadly ricin to Miss. suspect

Donna Leinwand Leger and Michael Winter, USA TODAY
Federal authorities wearing hazmat suits walk to the home of Everett Dutschke April 23 in Tupelo, Miss., in connection with the recent ricin attacks.
  • Items were removed from trash can near Everett Dutschke%27s martial arts studio
  • Traces of deadly poison also found in studio
  • Poisoned letters sent to President Obama%2C a senator and a Miss. judge

A dust mask and other items linked to a Mississippi martial arts instructor contained ricin, a deadly poison found in letters sent to President Obama, a U.S. senator and a state judge, according to an FBI document released Tuesday.

Lab tests found traces of ricin, a deadly poison made from castor beans, on several items federal agents seized April 22 from trash at or near the Tupelo home of Everett Dutschke, FBI Special Agent Stephen Thomason said in a sworn statement unsealed in Mississippi.

Agents found a dust mask, yellow paper and address labels in trash collected from a bin outside Dutschke's home, along with a coffee grinder, a box of latex gloves, another dust mask and an empty bucket of floor adhesive from a trash can near his former business, Thomason said in the affidavit.

Two publications describing ricin handling, storage and detection methods were downloaded onto Dutschke's computer, and agents also discovered records showing he ordered 50 red castor bean seeds on eBay on Nov. 17 and made a second purchase of 50 seeds on Dec. 1.

Dutschke allegedly paid for the seeds via PayPal. U.S. Postal Service records show the seeds were delivered to Dutschke's house on Dec. 5, the FBI agent said.

Dutschke's newly appointed public defender, George Lucas, declined comment on the sworn statement.

Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Allan Alexander ordered Dutschke, 41, held without bond, declaring him "a flight risk and a danger to the community."

Besides teaching martial arts, Dutschke has fronted a blues band, run unsuccessfully for public office and been indicted for child molestation. He also used to be a member of Mensa, the organization for those with high IQs.

Besides Obama, the letters were mailed to U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican from Tupelo, and an 80-year-old local judge, Sadie Holland. All of the letters were intercepted.

Dutschke is charged with knowingly developing, producing, stockpiling, transferring, acquiring, retaining and possessing a biological agent, toxin and delivery system, for use as a weapon, and with attempting, threatening and conspiring to do the same. If convicted, he could be imprisoned for life.

Police initially arrested Paul Kevin Curtis on April 17 after aides in Wicker's office told FBI agents that Curtis had sent several letters that used similar language. Federal agents searched his home, but found no evidence of Ricin, the affidavit said. A federal judge dismissed the charges against Curtis on April 23.

Curtis told investigators he suspected Dutschke may have sent the letters to frame him. Curtis and Dutschke "had a contentious personal relationship," Thomason said in the affidavit. Federal agents also interviewed a witness who said Dutschke had boasted of being able to manufacture a poison, the affidavit said.

Contributing: William M. Welch, USA TODAY.

Featured Weekly Ad