CERDAFIED - Paul Kevin Curtis was released from custody and charges were dismissed on Tuesday according to an Oxford federal court document.
He was accused of sending ricin-laced letters to President Obama, Mississippi Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, and justice of the peace, Sadie Holland in Lee County, Mississippi.
The testimony of FBI agent Brandon Grant revealed that no evidence connected Curtis to the crime. They did not find ricin in his home or vehicle, or ingredients or devices used to make it. His computers were not used to research ricin. Grant speculated that the processor could have been thrown away.
Without physical evidence that ties Curtis to the crime, his release was secured by a bond.
Christi McCoy, attorney for Paul Curtis, suggested that Curtis may have been framed by someone who signed the letters with a phrase he used on his Facebook page, "I am KC and I approve this message."
Grant testified that the search for the suspect began by using a list of Sen. Wicker's constituents with the initials KC. Then the number was reduced by those living in Memphis, Tennessee or who has the same postmark. This included places in northern Mississippi. Paul Curtis had written the senator and lived in the area, and had the same initials.
Envelopes and stamps were self-adhesive, leaving no DNA evidence. Fingerprints were not found either. Despite the lack of evidence Curtis was arrested and has maintained his innocence.
A new suspect has emerged, someone who may have held a grudge against Paul Curtis as well as the recipients of the letters. J. Everett Dutschke, lost his bid for a seat on the Mississippi House of Representatives in 2007 to Steve Holland. His mother, Sadie Holland, received a tainted letter. Steve Holland believes that Dutschke "hates the Hollands with a passion", according to an article in USA Today.
Is it coincidental that Dutschke's MySpace page shows a 2007 photo of Dutschke receiving an award from Sen. Roger Wicker? Perhaps not, he had pictures of other political leaders as well.
Dutschke and Paul Curtis had a falling out over two issues; Dutschke claimed that he could help Curtis get his book published, and Curtis posted a fake certificate claiming he was a member of Mensa, a membership based group of people with high IQs. Curtis admits the certificate was a fake but said he did it to prove that Dutschke was stalking him through social media. He knew this would enrage him. It set off a barrage of emails and a threat of a lawsuit by Dutschke .
Dutschke claimed that he didn't even know Curtis that well. Clearly they have a lot in common. Both are musicians and martial artists and both sent emails to political figures. Both have had the FBI, US Marshals Service and US Capitol Police visit their homes looking for evidence that ties them to the crime. Both maintain their innocence, and lastly, both are trying to implicate the other.
Lori Basham, Dutschke's attorney, said her client has cooperated with officials throughout the investigation. He consented to the search. Dutschke is already under investigation by the Tupelo Police Department and the Lee County Sheriff’s Department for the molestation of a seven year old child, according to the Clarion-Ledger.
All of which seems to demonstrate that it is easier to find a poisonous letter in the US Mail than to find the truth in a nest of persons of interest.
(Lisa Cerda is a contributor to CityWatch, a community activist, Chair of Tarzana Residents Against Poorly Planned Development, VP of Community Rights Foundation of LA, Tarzana Property Owners Association board member, and former Tarzana Neighborhood Council board member.)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 11 Issue 34
Pub: Apr 26, 2013