Fifth Letter Found in Spokane Ricin Investigation
| FBI Seattle June 08, 2013 |
Today, June 8, 2013, postal workers at the U.S. Post Office on W. Riverside Avenue, Spokane, Washington, located the fifth letter being sought by FBI and USPIS investigators in connection with four others containing the active ricin toxin. It came through the post office after being returned to sender by a location that does not receive mail deliveries. It had been addressed to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The envelope was found unopened and not leaking any materials. There are no reports of USPS employee injuries or illness.
The external appearance of the envelope is similar to the previous four letters, with a postmark of May 13, 2013, from Spokane, Washington, and the handwritten address penned in red ink. The unopened letter is being safely transported to the National Bioforensic Analysis Center for further testing.
The FBI and USPIS are not aware of any injuries or illnesses caused by any of the letters.
As noted previously, Matthew Ryan Buquet faces a one-count grand jury indictment for mailing threatening communications in relation to the letter sent to a Federal District Court judge in Spokane. The investigation is ongoing, and we are focused on conducting it thoroughly, which will take an undetermined period of time. The FBI and USPIS have no other details to release at present.