After years of stumbles, bumbles, and fumbles, the FBI finally managed to accomplish something in their search for the anthrax murder. That accomplishment, unfortunately, was the suicide of the prime suspect.
In 2003, the Defense Department gave Bruce Ivins its highest civilian honor for his work on an anthrax vaccine.I have an insider at Ft. Detrick (a mere 15 minute drive from my house -- ain't it comforting to know that all of the major toxins and biological agents known to mankind are such a short drive away?). My source knew both Ivins as well as Steven Hatfill, the original "person of interest" in the case. My source said that it was ridiculous to ever consider Hatfill a suspect; in his line of work, he would have never had access to anthrax. I mean, it's not like people can wander into any old area of the research labs and grab up a smallpox sample or a cup of ricin.
Friday, the government had little to say about him, following his apparent suicide and media reports that the FBI was preparing to charge him with the 2001 anthrax mailings.
Ivins was a Frederick resident who worked at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases...
So what did my source have to say about Mr. Ivins? They told me that, given the constant harassment he was under for the past two years from law enforcement, it's not surprising that he offed himself. They didn't come right out and say that they didn't think he did it. But they didn't express the same certainty that the media has expressed.
Naturally, the Frederick News-Post is all over the story, in case you want to get the "local" read on it.
It's certainly been more spotlight than Frederick is used to, that's for sure.
