Ricin-filled letters!

On Saturday April 27, 2013 a man named Everett Dutschke form Tupelo, Mississippi was arrested for sending ricin-filled letters through the mail, addressed to President Obama, Senator Roger Wicker, and a local judge, Sadie Holland. Dutschke had been arguing with a man online named Kevin Curtis over different issues. Originally, he was thought to be the criminal, only for the FBI to realize that he was framed by Dutschke. Dutschke said, "I guess Kevin got desperate. I feel like he's getting away with the perfect crime. It has made my family incredibly unsafe. It has put a target on us, and it was reckless and irresponsible." Continuing to deny his offense, he announced, "I'm a patriotic American. I don't have any grudges against anybody...I did not send the letters.” However, the FBI did not find any ricin in Curtis’ home or car, and so they began a search of Dutschke’s home. 

In this picture, FBI agents search for ricin in a trash can outside of Curtis' house and, of course, none was found. 

And, after Curtis was free from any criminal act, his attorney, Christi McCoy said, “We are relieved but also saddened. This crime is nothing short of diabolical. I have seen a lot of meanness in the past two decades, but this stops me in my tracks.”

The letters to President Obama and Wicker never reached Dutschke’s planned recipient because they were retrieved at an off-site mail facility, rather than being directly sent to the president and the senator. However, Judge Holland received his letter. He smelled the poisonous ricin with no harmful affects. 

Dutschke has also committed other crimes before this. He was arrested for sexually molesting girls and vulgar exposure involving a minor. For his recent crime, the hearing is Monday in Oxford, Mississippi. He may be sentenced to life in prison if he is found guilty on all charges. Do you think he should be sentenced to life in prison? Personally, I think he should be sentenced to life because he, knowingly, made and possessed a poisonous substance to use as a weapon. 

You can view a video about the offense and read more about it here.