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Anthrax Letter Writer Profile
FBI Home Page ^ | FBI, Critical Incident Response Group

Posted on 11/09/2001 1:33:50 PM PST by Fearless Flyers

This profile was reached directly from the FBI Home Page. Do you know this man?

November 9, 2001

Amerithrax Press Briefing

Linguistic/Behavioral Analysis of Anthrax Letters

Critical Incident Response Group

National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime

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. The safety of the American people is at stake. If you have credible information that might help identify this person, please contact 1-800-CRIMETV (274-6388), use www.ifcc.fbi.gov, or call your local FBI field office.

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.

Pre-Offense Behavior

• Following the events of September 11, 2001, this person may have become mission oriented in his desire to undertake these Anthrax mailings. He may have become more secretive and exhibited an unusual pattern of activity. Additionally, he may have displayed a passive disinterest in the events which otherwise captivated the Nation. He also may have started taking antibiotics unexpectedly.

Post-Offense Behavior

• He may have exhibited significant behavioral changes at various critical periods of time throughout the course of the Anthrax mailings and related media coverage. These may include the following;

1. Altered physical appearance.
2. Pronounced anxiety.
3. Atypical media interest.
4. Noticeable mood swings.
5. More withdrawn.
6. Unusual level of preoccupation.
7. Unusual absenteeism.
8. Altered sleeping and/or eating habits.

These post-offense behaviors would have been most noticeable during critical times, including but not limited to: the mailing of the letters (09/18/01 and 10/09/01), the death of first Anthrax victim, media reports of each anthrax incident, and especially the deaths and illnesses of non-targeted victims.

AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE CREDIBLE INFORMATION THAT MIGHT HELP IDENTIFY THIS PERSON, PLEASE CONTACT THE FBI IMMEDIATELY AT 1-800-CRIMETV (274-6388), AT WWW.IFCC.FBI.GOV, OR BY CALLING YOUR LOCAL FBI FIELD OFFICE.


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
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To: syriacus; Fred25
Bentonite sucks for this purpose. It is comparitively large grained and dense. If it was present at all it was use to cut the good stuff in the first 2 letters to the news guys. The good stuff that was cut used colloidal silica as the carrier. It has an extremely low density and small particle size. Note Dachle's letter had the good uncut stuff made with silica.

If you ever poured kitty litter...the dust settles fast. If you've ever handled colloidal silica, you'd notice it doesn't settle out of the air and it gets all over the place with the slightest of air movement.

121 posted on 11/09/2001 4:28:01 PM PST by spunkets
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To: spunkets
The good stuff that was cut used colloidal silica as the carrier.

I didn't know this. Thanks for the information.

122 posted on 11/09/2001 4:32:50 PM PST by syriacus
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To: syriacus
Re: 9-11

Yes, that's what I meant by the jihadists go after the big time kills. When they do things, they don't nitpick with goofy letters that announce, "here we are, take penicillin, we've got anthrax". They'd send letters that say. "Oh what a wonderful show you have", and then throw a party when they're all dead. They also go for a much higher body count.

123 posted on 11/09/2001 4:34:39 PM PST by spunkets
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To: M. Thatcher
I do the "09" thing all the time. It might be familiarity with computers, it might be aesthetics in how I write my dates. Who knows. I'd say it fits with an anal, science type who can't stand not having that extra placeholder in there and thinks the date otherwise 'looks wrong' or looks 'imprecise' without it.
124 posted on 11/09/2001 4:36:19 PM PST by newzjunkey
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To: Fearless Flyers
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.

Get a Johnny McLame handwriting sample pronto!

125 posted on 11/09/2001 4:37:08 PM PST by VRWC For Truth
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A caller on a local talk show brought up an interesting point the other day. The letter mentions penicillin instead of Cipro to be taken. This meant to him that the person would tend to be from some third world country where modern drugs like Cipro wouldn’t be available. Come to think about it, how many times have you heard about penicillin being the drug to use for anthrax or anything else lately?
126 posted on 11/09/2001 4:37:10 PM PST by The Cajun
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To: spunkets
Hey! Can we have a sample of your handwriting!?
127 posted on 11/09/2001 4:41:02 PM PST by Fred25
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To: spunkets
That makes sense about the letter to Daschle, and it does appear that this scheme was long in the making. Why the FL incident first? For publicity, just as the letters to the media? However, isn't it believed that flight 93 was headed for the White House or the Capitol Building, so couldn't be a coordinated attack?

I have thought this was a domestic attack, but the more we hear about the entrenchment of the jihad in this country, I still feel uncertain.

128 posted on 11/09/2001 4:41:04 PM PST by Angelique
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To: syriacus
Ms. Nguyen worked in the "supply room" and they received small parcels there. Any small parcel that was placed in a flat tray or letter tray previously contaminated by an anthrax laden letter could very well pass along some of the anthrax powder to the person taking the parcels out of the tray - or putting a parcel into the tray - this makes the polypropylene corrugated channels "outgas".

I am sorry if this is too complex for the FBI, but they are the ones who keep saying that if there is no letter involved her infection cannot be explained.

You will notice I just treated her infection as a trivial problem - readily solved by anyone who knows anything about letter and flat trays and how the post office really works. Frankly I am positively amazed that not a single solitary FBI agent ever worked his way through college as a PTF - NOT ONE!

129 posted on 11/09/2001 4:43:40 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: Asmodeus
THANK YOU for presenting the text of these letters again! I cannot (can not) BELIEVE anyone is taking this FBI snowjob seriously! They can employ psychic powers to dredge all kinds of personality characteristics from these letters like the Oracle of Delphi,(all suggesting a Republican nutcase from Montana is behind it all) but they can find "no connection" (MSNBC) to the high-jackers?!?!? Death to Israel! Death to America! Allah is Great! They are not this stupid. They are LYING to us. The question is "WHY?"
130 posted on 11/09/2001 4:43:57 PM PST by Burr5
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To: The Cajun
Maybe he's an older guy?
131 posted on 11/09/2001 4:45:07 PM PST by Fred25
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To: Artist; Askel5
Is this what you were looking for? I copied these from Artist's thread last month. There are envelope photos too, but I'm not sure what goes with what...


132 posted on 11/09/2001 4:45:14 PM PST by gumbo
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To: Fred25
"Hey! Can we have a sample of your handwriting!?"

I usually write in all caps. In order to copy Morse code at over 20 WPM I had to use samll scribbly letters that look like Arabic. My writing is beautiful though, with my right hand. If I do it with my left, it looks like Chinese.

133 posted on 11/09/2001 4:47:05 PM PST by spunkets
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To: Fearless Flyers
Well that leaves me out....
134 posted on 11/09/2001 4:47:11 PM PST by classygreeneyedblonde
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To: Fred25
"Maybe he's an older guy?"

Yea, I think he killed the Ngxxx lady in NY to keep her from talking. Apparently she inhaled a big dose of spores, she died quick, and they don't have a trace of anthrax in her regular living/work space. Unless the killer did a random attack on an old Vietnamese woman, the killer knew her. Probably flowers or something.

135 posted on 11/09/2001 4:52:31 PM PST by spunkets
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To: Fred25
Maybe he's an older guy?

That's an interesting thought also.

136 posted on 11/09/2001 4:52:50 PM PST by The Cajun
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To: Fearless Flyers
The most obvious thing about the letters is that the writer was disguising his hand writing. One thing that I notice is his style of 'G'. I have never seen a G made like that. Looks like a 6. I don't think this person was taught how to write in this country.
137 posted on 11/09/2001 4:56:35 PM PST by mercy
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To: Anitius Severinus Boethius
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.

Author understands the importance of capitalization, and it appears that he sub-subconsciously "capitalized" where he should have.

That's the Microsoft Word "small caps" font style.

It's also the way the Cyrillic alphabet is written. Cyrillic evidently lacks lower case. Might he be a former employee of Biopreparat?

138 posted on 11/09/2001 4:59:32 PM PST by cynwoody
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To: Asmodeus
Hmmm thanks for posting those. That definitely helps.
139 posted on 11/09/2001 5:03:17 PM PST by newzjunkey
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To: Angelique
I think the guy hates the Enquirer group, and it's got a huge circulation. The guy in FL apparently kept the letter on his desk, but I don't think it was recovered. Looks like the first mention of his condition was made on ~10-4. He probably got a copy of the same letters the other news guys got, but they didn't report it. Probably thought it was a hoax. I can just imagine the kind of letters they get regularly.
140 posted on 11/09/2001 5:03:43 PM PST by spunkets
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