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December 2, 2008 9:52:59 PM CST

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ricin

ricin news stories

8 Stories

 Las Vegas
 Ricin Man
 Pleads Guilty

Loner fantasized about harming people

Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times Aug 5, 08 3:14 AM CDT
(Newser) - A man who almost died from exposure to his own ricin, one of the deadliest toxins known, has pleaded guilty to possession of the poison, reports the Los Angeles Times. The unemployed graphic designer, 57, was found suffering from poisoning in February, and investigators discovered he had been making the toxin in his room at a Las Vegas motel.  More »

Vegas Ricin Man Arrested After Hospital Stay

'Exotic idea' to poison foes, not terror, believed behind toxin

Associated Press Associated Press Apr 16, 08 5:05 PM CDT
(Newser) - Roger Bergendorff, hospitalized in February for exposure to the toxin ricin, was charged today in Las Vegas in what authorities say was an "exotic idea" to strike at foes—and not a terror plot, the AP reports. Bergendorff, 57, faces charges including possession of a biological toxin, traces of which were found in his hotel room Feb. 26—while he was in a coma. More »

More about:  Las Vegas • ricin • Roger Bergendorff

Man Says
He Had Ricin
for Self-Defense

He admits having it in hotel, says he did not plan to hurt anyone

Associated Press Associated Press Mar 18, 08 7:35 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Las Vegas man hospitalized by exposure to ricin in his hotel room told his brother he  did not intend to hurt anyone with it, the AP reports. Roger Bergendoff, who regained consciousness last week after a month, admitted possessing the biological agent but said it was for self-defense. "He just confirmed that it was not intended for anybody," said his brother. "It was something that would be used for his own purposes." More »

More about:  FBI • Las Vegas • Nevada • biological weapons • suspected terrorists • toxin • ricin • Roger Bergendorff • Poison

 Man in
 Ricin Case 
 Wakes Up 

FBI questioning 57-year-old about toxin found in Las Vegas hotel room

Associated Press Associated Press Mar 14, 08 5:45 PM CDT
(Newser) - The man at the center of the Las Vegas ricin investigation regained consciousness today, although he remains hospitalized in critical condition, the Associated Press reports. Roger Bergendorff, 57, had been in a coma since Feb. 14; he has already been questioned by FBI agents about the toxin—considered a "biological weapon"—found in his hotel room. More »

More about:  terrorism • FBI • Las Vegas • Nevada • poison • biological weapons • toxin • ricin • Roger Bergendorff • biological warfare

Utah Home Searched
in Ricin Case

Suburban neighbors evacuated

Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Tribune Mar 3, 08 7:03 AM CST
(Newser) - FBI agents yesterday searched the former Utah home of a man clinging to life after apparent ricin poisoning in his Las Vegas hotel room. Neighbors within a two-block area were evacuated but were later allowed to return to their homes.  Local residents described the man as a mild-mannered, down-on-his-luck loner who could be inexplicably vindictive at times. "I never felt comfortable around him," said one neighbor. More »

More about:  FBI • Las Vegas • Utah • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • poison • toxin • ricin • storage

Firearms, Anarchist Book Found With Ricin

Man in critical condition; others test negative for deadly poison

CNN CNN Mar 1, 08 11:17 AM CST
(Newser) - The authorities who discovered ricin in a Las Vegas hotel room also recovered firearms and an “anarchist-type textbook” with an earmarked entry about the lethal toxin, CNN reports. The 57-year-old man whose room contained the poison remains hospitalized in critical condition and unable to speak with investigators, but seven others checked as a precaution tested negative. More »

UPDATED

Man in Critical Condition After Stay in Ricin Room

No apparent terror motive in toxin mystery

CNN CNN Feb 29, 08 3:05 PM CST
(Newser) - A man who stayed in a Las Vegas hotel room where ricin was found yesterday has been hospitalized for 2 weeks after exposure to the toxin and is in critical condition, CNN reports. A friend retrieving his belongings discovered the ricin. "We don't know who it belongs to or why it would be here at this time," said a police captain. More »

More about:  Las Vegas • poison • biological weapons • toxin • ricin

'Terror Toxin' Found in Vegas

Police hunt source of container found in hotel room

CNN CNN Feb 29, 08 6:58 AM CST
(Newser) - Las Vegas police have discovered the deadly toxin ricin at a long-stay hotel, CNN reports. It's "100% ricin," said a police official. "We did have enough ricin to be concerned. At this point, it has been contained and is not a threat to anybody." Three policemen, three hotel workers, and another person are in a local hospital under observation for signs of ricin poisoning. So far, they're fine. More »

More about:  Las Vegas • extremists • biological weapons • toxin • ricin

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