Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Shermy
Well, I see why they have been watching him. Lots of connections. The terrorism expert who seems a little toooo interested. Leaving his job and residence right when it happened (Oct 2001). Connections to the mailing point. Already been busted for illegality (loose morals). Quiet, "different" guy. Outspoken about a future anthrax threat.

And then when the family is hustled out so that their home might be thoroughly searched, he lashes out at them. Did a family member suggest that Daddy is a terrorist? Did he take especial umbrage at that? (If one of my family members suggested that I was a terrorist, I would either laughingly or very seriously be able to deny it with no rise of emotion on my part.)

Maybe this is Hatfill's lucky day.

29 posted on 08/07/2004 2:52:14 PM PDT by Yaelle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


Helms: FBI owes Berry big-time apology; Pastor calls Dr. Berry a 'national treasure'

By JOHN ANDERSON/Daily Reporter

WELLSVILLE -- As Pastor Richard "Dick" Helms watches the coverage of the FBI investigation into his friend Dr. Kenneth Berry, he is shocked that anyone could imply Dr. Berry would be connected to deadly anthrax mailings.

The weekend after Sept. 11, 2001, Helms married Dr. Berry and his wife at the Knights Creek Church wedding chapel where he was ministering at the time.

The FBI said they searched Dr. Berry's house Thursday on East Pearl Street in Wellsville and his old apartment on Maple Avenue "related to the FBI's ongoing investigation into the origin of the anthrax-laced letters mailed in September and October of 2001, which resulted in the deaths of five individuals and serious illness to 17 others." Dr. Berry also had a summer home in New Jersey owned by his father searched, his car at the airport in Pittsburgh and an apartment he once lived in there as well. The FBI has not said if they found any traces of anthrax and they have not charged Dr. Berry in connection with anthrax.

Dr. Berry founded an organization called PREEMPT Medical Counter-Terrorism in 1997. He filed a provisional patent for a system in October 2000 and filed the actual patent application Sept. 28, 2001, 10 days after the first anthrax letters were postmarked. He touted the system as an effective way to respond to bioterrorism attacks.

Helms is the Webmaster for the PREEMPT Web site.

"They didn't find anything and they wont find anything," said Helms. "If there was anyone more dedicated to protecting the American people from biochemical terrorism, I do not know who it would be. He developed the protocol and procedures before it was fashionable. He did the training for medical and first responders -- and he did it all with little or no reimbursement -- a lot of this out of his own pocket.

"Hey, this man cares!" Helms added.

Dr. Berry was the director of the emergency room at Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville from December of 1996 to October of 2001. He has worked at a hospital in Pittsburgh, commuting by plane while living in Wellsville. He was married and had seven children from two relationships.

On Thursday, Dr. Berry and his family went to breakfast in New Jersey. When they returned, the FBI was searching the summer home. When the family went to a nearby hotel, a fight broke out, according to police. Dr. Berry was charged with four counts of domestic abuse and a restraining order was placed on him from seeing his family.

"I can not even comprehend or imagine the stress they are going through and it's a mixed family to begin with," said Helms. "I am very upset that has become part of the story. Ken is a super guy, he cares, you have to get to know him. There is absolutely no way he could have done this. I have two words to summarize this whole thing: absolutely absurd."

Helms does not see how Dr. Berry can go back to work at any hospital or work in his chosen field of counter terrorism.

"The FBI owes him an apology, big-time," said Helms. "They harmed him and it looks like they harmed his family. I like both the agents who are primaries in this area -- they also questioned me, because I am a Webmaster for Preempt.org."

Helms said the Web site has not been updated in a while. Not many people in Wellsville have said they were close friends with Dr. Berry, and many neighbors really didn't know him. But Helms said that is not unusual.

"He worked at the hospital he worked in counter terrorism. He didn't have time to make a lot of friends, but the ones he did make are very loyal," said Helms. "You won't find a lot of (people who were) friends with Ken Berry ... and ones he work with call him an S.O.B., but they call me that, too! Anyone who has anyone who worked for someone will have something bad said about them."

Helms said Dr. Berry cold not be tied to mailing out anthrax letters in 2001.

"Want a practical reason? He was getting ready to get married!" Helms says emphatically.

Helms also defends Dr. Berry's character.

"I think they have damaged his reputation to the point the United States has lost a wonderful asset," said Helms. "He was a true American asset, if not a national treasure.

"He's a little unusual but most brilliant people are different. And he's different," Helms continued. "You get underneath that and he's got a heart the size of Texas for an American."

http://www.wellsvilledaily.com/articles/2004/08/10/local_news/news01.txt


30 posted on 08/10/2004 11:09:45 AM PDT by Shermy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson