In support of an investigation conducted last fall by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Postal Service, the Utah National Guard’s 85th Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Team (CST) facilitated the surveillance of a home in Logan, Utah, for hazardous materials.
The mission came after letters containing ground castor beans, the substance from which the deadly poison ricin is made, were allegedly mailed from the Logan home to President Donald Trump, Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Navy Admiral John Richardson.
“The 85th CST members conducted joint entries with FBI agents in order to provide atmospheric monitoring and assist with evidence collection,” said the 85th CST deputy commander, whose name was withheld.
The 85th CST deployed with its full complement of equipment, including advanced communication, analytical, survey and medical gear and tools. The 85th CST donned protective hazmat gear before entering the Logan residence to begin the investigation. Members performed the technical decontamination for all agencies and agents exiting the residence as well as the monitoring inside.
The FBI released a statement Oct. 3 about the homeowner and suspect in the case: “The Salt Lake City Division of the FBI has taken William Clyde Allen into custody per a probable cause arrest warrant authorized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Utah. Per the USAO [U.S. Attorney Office], a complaint is expected to be filed in federal court on Friday (Oct. 5).”
Allen, a 39-year-old Logan resident, confessed to sending the letters laced with poison and was held in the Davis County jail on a threat of terrorism charge. He is a former member of the U.S. Navy.
“We had indication he may possess dangerous chemicals in the house,” said Doug Davis, an FBI special agent from the FBI’s Salt Lake City office.
“It was a good opportunity for us to participate in a high-visibility event and operate with multiple federal agency partners,” the 85th CST deputy commander said. “The 85th CST was able to meet all of the objectives of the incident commander, and it was another successful support mission of the CST.”
Ricin is a highly toxic compound extracted from castor beans that has been used in terror plots and has no known antidote. It can be used in powder, pellet or mist form. If ingested, ricin can cause vomiting, bloody diarrhea, severe dehydration, internal bleeding, kidney and liver failure and then possibly death.
If inhaled, within a few hours, the likely symptoms would be coughing, fever, tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing and nausea. Heavy sweating may follow as well as fluid buildup in the lungs. Low blood pressure and respiratory failure may then occur, leading to possible death.
By Ileen Kennedy, Utah National Guard
