Researcher at Center of Anthrax Case Dies

SelectPlusResearcher at Center of Anthrax Case DiesResearcher at Center of Anthrax Case DiesThe Associated PressA top U.S. biodefense researcher apparently committed suicide just as the Justice Department was about to file criminal charges against him. The charges were in connection to the 2001 anthrax mailings that killed five people. (Aug. 1)It was just weeks after the 2001 terror attacks, and the nation was traumatized again. Anthrax -- being sent through the mail. Five people ended up dead and no suspect in custody. Now - a top U-S biodefense researcher has apparently committed suicide, just as the Justice Department was about to file criminal charges against him in the case. The scientist -- Bruce E. Ivins -- died Tuesday at a suburban Washington Hospital. He had worked for the past 18 years at the government's biodefense labs at Fort Detrick -- and according to the Los Angeles Times -- had been told about the impending prosecution.SOT: David Dishneau/AP Reporter Ivins brother - Tom - confirmed to the Associated Press that his brother did commit suicide, from apparently taking a massive dose of prescription Tylenol mixed with codeine.SOT: Steven Hatfill/fmr person of interest The government's investigation into the anthrax deaths first centered around Steven Hatfill. The F-B-I labeled him a person of interest. But just last month -- he was exonerated and paid nearly six million dollars to settle a lawsuit he had filed against the Justice Department. Besides the five deaths -- 17 other people were sickened, many of them postal workers. Some of the letters were sent to members of Congress and to members of the media in both New York and Florida. It wasn't until Robert Mueller took over the F-B-I in 2006 that Ivins apparently became a subject of the investigation. Ivins was one of the nation's leading biodefense researchers -- co-authoring numerous anthrax studies.SOT: David Dishneau/AP Reporter So far the Justice Department, nor the F-B-I are commenting. ___ ___, The Associated Press.

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