Bruce Ivins was thought to be the infamous anthrax killer, but now those involved with the case are not so sure. There are unanswered questions and details that do not add up. Experts and those involved in the case of the anthrax killer have yet to reach a satisfactory conclusion.
Narrowing It Down.
To catch the killer, the FBI subpoenaed samples of a particular strain of anthrax from labs around the world. They examined these samples for four mutations that would help identify a match to the strain that was used to kill five people in 2001. The first sample received from Dr. Bruce Ivins was not properly submitted and was destroyed. He was required to give a second sample, but this sample was of a different anthrax strain than the first. Luckily, a duplicate of his first sample was submitted to Dr. Paul Keim who is a geneticist at Northern Arizona University. That sample is what linked Ivins to two anthrax attacks that happened in the weeks following the events on September 11, 2001. He kept unusually long evening hours at his lab after the attacks, and this was thought to be an indication of questionable activities. .
Incomplete Evidence.
A news conference was held to explain the scientific case that was brought against Ivins. Those presenting the case contradicted themselves during the course of the news conference. Understandably, this did not instill confidence in the general public regarding the case against Ivins. The destruction of the first sample Ivins sent in is also suspect. However, the ability to make the connection between a particular lab and a unique strain of the virus was not even developed until after Ivins" first sample had been destroyed.
Still Unsure.
Scientists and officials alike admit that there are unanswered questions. FBI Assistant Director Vahid Majidi admits that missteps were made, but states that lessons were learned from these mistakes. Dr. Michael Stebbins directs the Federation of American Scientists' project on biosecurity and agrees that there are still a lot of unanswered questions.
