Flagstaff, Ariz. – An Arizona man charged with eco-sabotage in Washington state wrote his will in the days before he killed himself in his jail cell, according to sheriff’s officials.
William C. Rodgers, 40, of Prescott, also wrote letters to friends during his last hours but none made reference to suicide or to any of the crimes he was suspected of committing, according to sheriff’s officials.
Coconino County Sheriff’s Department detectives seized the writings for their investigation.
Rodgers was one of six people arrested last month in suspected ecoterror attacks in Oregon and Washington in recent years. He was charged in the firebombing of a federal Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service facility outside Olympia, Wash.
In an affidavit filed in federal court in Oregon, an FBI agent said Rodgers attended a meeting of Earth Liberation Front members in western Colorado where the arson of a Vail ski resort was planned, although he had not been charged in that case.
Rodgers was awaiting transfer to Washington when he was found dead on Dec. 22. The county medical examiner determined that Rodgers suffocated after placing a plastic bag over his head.
The will was dated Dec. 15 and was addressed to Rodgers’ Flagstaff attorney, David Barrow. Detectives said Barrow gave permission to open the envelope, which also contained some letters.
Lt. Rex Gilliland said the letters were of a personal nature.
Two were from Rodgers to his girlfriend in Prescott and two were addressed to supporters.
Two of the letters mentioned prosecutors attempting to demonize him, Gilliland said.
Rodgers also mentioned that it was extremely important for people to refuse to testify in front of federal grand juries and that solidarity will make the government back down.
Gilliland said the case will remain open pending the final autopsy results and toxicology tests.
Barrow said Rodgers’ body was released to his parents and brother.
Another Arizonan swept up in the case, Sarah Kendall Harvey, also known as Kendall Tankersley, was released from an Oregon jail Jan. 10 on $150,000 bond.
Tom Bauer, a spokesman for Northern Arizona University, said that Harvey has enrolled in two classes there this semester. She is no longer an employee of the university, Bauer said, adding that he was unable to comment further. Harvey was charged in a December 1998 fire at U.S. Forest Industries in Medford, Ore.
Lee D. Foreman, a Denver-based attorney for Harvey, said his client pleaded innocent.
“Obviously, she’s very pleased to be out of jail,” Foreman said.
