November
9, 2001
Amerithrax Press Briefing
Today the FBI is releasing linguistic and behavioral assessments of the
person responsible for mailing anthrax-laden letters on September 18 and
October 9, 2001. We ask the American public to study these assessments and
reflect on whether someone of their acquaintance might fit the profile.
If you have credible information that might help identify this person, please
contact the FBI immediately.
EVIDENCE DESCRIPTION
Letter 1
One page, hand-printed letter
Transmittal envelope, also similarly hand printed
Addressed to "NBC TV Tom Brokaw" No return address
Postmarked Trenton, NJ 09/18/2001 (Tues.)
Letter 2
One page, hand-printed letter
Transmittal envelope, also similarly hand printed
Addressed to "NY Post" No return address
Postmarked Trenton, NJ 09/18/2001 (Tues.)
Letter 3
One page, hand-printed letter
Transmittal envelope, also similarly hand printed
Addressed to "Senator Daschle 509 Hart Senate Office Building"
Return address "4th Grade, Greendale School, Franklin Park, NJ"
Return address zip code "08852"
Postmarked Trenton, NJ 10/09/2001 (Tues.)
LINGUISTIC ASSESSMENT
It is highly probable, bordering on certainty, that all three letters were
authored by the same person. Letters 1 and 2 are identical copies. Letter 3,
however, contains a somewhat different message than the other letters. The
Anthrax utilized in Letter 3 was much more refined, more potent, and more easily
disbursed than letters 1 and 2.
In the past, the public has helped the FBI solve high profile investigations
that involved writings by coming forward to identify the author, either by
how he wrote or by what he wrote. We are asking for the public's help here
again in the same way.
While the text in these letters is limited, there are certain distinctive
characteristics in the author's writing style. These same characteristics
may be evident in other letters, greeting cards, or envelopes this person
has written. We hope someone has received correspondence from this person
and will recognize some of these characteristics.
The characteristics include:
1. The author uses dashes ("-") in the writing of the date "09-11-01." Many
people use the slash ("/") to separate the day/month/year.
2. In writing the number one, the author chooses to use a formalized, more
detailed version. He writes it as "1" instead of the simple vertical
line.
3. The author uses the words "can not," when many people prefer
to spell it as one word, "cannot."
4. The author writes in all upper case block-style letters. However, the
first letter of the first word of each sentence is written in slightly larger
upper case lettering. Also, the first letter of all proper nouns (like names)
is slightly larger. This is apparently the author's way of indicating a word
should be capitalized in upper case lettering. For whatever reason, he may
not be comfortable or practiced in writing in lower case lettering.
5. The names and address on each envelope are noticeably tilted on a downward
slant from left to right. This may be a characteristic seen on other envelopes
he has sent.
6. The envelopes are of the pre-stamped variety, the stamps denoting 34 cents,
which are normally available directly from the post office. They are not the
traditional business size envelopes, but the smaller size measuring approximately
6 1/4" x 3 ½".
BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT
Based on the selection of Anthrax as the "weapon" of choice by
this individual, the offender:
-
is likely an adult male.
-
if employed, is likely to be in a position requiring
little contact with the public, or other employees. He may work in a
laboratory. He is apparently
comfortable working with an extremely hazardous material. He probably
has a scientific background to some extent, or at least a strong interest
in
science.
-
has likely taken appropriate protective steps to ensure
his own safety, which may include the use of an Anthrax vaccination
or antibiotics.
-
has access to a source of Anthrax and possesses
knowledge and expertise to refine it.
-
possesses or has access to some laboratory equipment;
i.e., microscope, glassware, centrifuge, etc.
-
has exhibited an organized, rational thought process
in furtherance of his criminal behavior.
-
has a familiarity, direct or indirect, with the
Trenton, NJ, metropolitan area; however, this does not necessarily mean
he currently lives in the Trenton,
NJ, area.. He is comfortable traveling in and around this locale.
-
did not select victims randomly. He made an effort to identify the
correct address, including zip code, of each victim and used sufficient postage
to ensure proper delivery of the letters. The offender deliberately "selected" NBC
News, the New York Post, and the office of Senator Tom Daschle
as the targeted victims (and possibly AMI in Florida). These targets
are probably very important
to the offender. They may have been the focus of previous expressions
of contempt which may have been communicated to others, or observed
by others.
-
is a non-confrontational person, at least in his public life. He
lacks the personal skills necessary to confront others. He chooses to confront
his problems "long distance" and not face-to-face. He may hold
grudges for a long time, vowing that he will get even with "them" one
day. There are probably other, earlier examples of this type of
behavior. While these earlier incidents were not actual Anthrax
mailings, he may have
chosen to anonymously harass other individuals or entities that
he perceived as having wronged him. He may also have chosen to
utilize the mail on those
occasions.
-
prefers being by himself more often than not.
If he is involved in a personal relationship it will likely be of a self
serving nature.