WASHINGTON — DNA taken from the bodies of people killed in the 2001 anthrax attacks helped lead investigators to Bruce Ivins, who oversaw the highly specific type of toxin in an Army lab, a government scientist said Sunday.
Using new genome technology, researchers looked at samples of cells from the victims to identify the kind of anthrax Ames strain that killed them, the scientist said. They noticed subtle differences in the DNA of the strain used in the attacks than in other types of Ames anthrax.
With that, investigators linked the type of anthrax to Ivins’ biological-weapons lab at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Md., where he oversaw its use and handling for research.
“It had to do with the very specific characteristics in the DNA of the letters and what was in Bruce’s labs,” said the government scientist, who is close to the investigation. “They were cultures he was personally responsible for.”
The scientist spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to reporters.
The scientific discovery gave the FBI its first solid break in one of the nation’s most high-profile unsolved crimes. The attacks killed five and sickened 17 others in the weeks after 9/11.
Dozens of other researchers in Ivins’ lab also had access to the type of Ames strain used in the attacks. Investigators used other evidence to build the case against Ivins, including looking at who had access to the poison or the labs at the specific time it was mailed.
Ivins killed himself last week, reportedly as prosecutors prepared to indict him on murder charges.
However, it was reported Sunday that an indictment was weeks off, with evidence still to be presented to a grand jury and the jury’s vote taken. National Public Radio reported Sunday that sources close to the case said Ivins had been presented with only some evidence in the case, with the intent of persuading him to admit to mailing the anthrax.
The new genome technology that tracked down Ivins was either not available or too expensive to use often until about three years ago. The government scientist said the FBI knew the DNA evidence linked Ivins to the attacks for at least a year.
However, prosecutors worried that because the genome technology was so new, it might be questioned and eventually thrown out if the case against Ivins ever went to trial.
Bloomberg News contributed to this report.
