conducting a successful anthrax dissemination by mail, having commissioned a “risk assessment” report from a renowned bioweaponeer which describes in detail the tactical effectiveness of an anthrax letter sent through the U.S. mail, including the specific quantity of anthrax that can be packed into an envelope without arousing suspicion. Multiple PowerPoint presentations used by Dr. Hatfill prior to the attacks specifically depicted an anthrax letter attack scenario, one of which contained a slide entitled “Multiple Hoax Mailing Trends” that referenced: “Single letter containing WMD threat sent to multiple targets. Letters similar in content and point of origin. Letters delivered to … Government Agencies … News Agencies.”
Dr. Hatfill also aroused suspicion early in the case because pharmacy records from Frederick, Maryland revealed that he filled multiple prescriptions for the antibiotic Cipro® in January, July, September, October, and November of 2001, including refills of the antibiotic two days before each of the anthrax mailings. This was significant because Cipro® was the only drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of inhalational anthrax. Dr. Hatfill obtained some of these prescriptions by calling a doctor acquaintance, complaining that he was sick and specifically asking for a Cipro® prescription. The prescribing physician, who telephoned in the prescriptions to Dr. Hatfill’s pharmacy, never examined Dr. Hatfill to confirm his claimed illness.
In addition to these facts, the early investigation in this case developed other information relating to Dr. Hatfill that appeared suspicious at the time. For example, a search of a pond near Frederick, Maryland, associated with Dr. Hatfill, contained a suspicious plastic container that arguably could have been modified to assemble the anthrax letters and appeared to be deposited intentionally in the pond.
Ultimately, Amerithrax investigators concluded that Dr. Hatfill’s antibiotic usage was explained in part as a self-prescribed therapy for a persistent sinus and bronchial infection. Further, Dr. Hatfill’s work product (PowerPoint presentations and training exercises) that addressed various bio-threats, including the use of the mail, were commonly used in the bio defense community. Finally, there was no evidence linking Dr. Hatfill to the plastic container located in the pond, nor was there any evidence that it had been used in for any illicit purpose.
Most important regarding the ultimate exclusion of Dr. Hatfill were the later scientific breakthroughs. Early in the investigation, agents determined that isolates of the Ames strain were accessible to any individual at USAMRIID with access to the bio-containment or “hot” side of Building 1412, including Dr. Hatfill. Later in the investigation, RMR-1029 was conclusively identified as the parent material to the anthrax powder used in the mailings. Because Dr. Hatfill – who left USAMRIID two years before the anthrax attacks – never had access to the area in which RMR-1029 was stored at the time it was stored there, he was ultimately eliminated as a suspect.
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