Feds arrest suspect in ricin-positive letters sent to Obama, senator

[onehandle]

Source: NBC

Federal agents on Wednesday arrested a suspect in the mailing of letters to President Barack Obama and a U.S. senator that initially tested positive for the poison ricin. The suspect was identified as Kenneth Curtis of Tupelo, Miss., federal officials told NBC News.

Both letters carried an identical closing statement, according to an FBI bulletin obtained by NBC News on Wednesday. According to the FBI bulletin, both letters, postmarked April 8, 2013 out of Memphis, Tenn., included an identical phrase, "to see a wrong and not expose it, is to become a silent partner to its continuance."

In addition, both letters are signed: "I am KC and I approve this message." The letter to Obama was intercepted at an off-site White House mail facility and was being tested further, the FBI said. A federal law enforcement official said that the letter was “very similar” to one addressed to Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss.

Two federal officials said late Wednesday that an initial laboratory test on the material in the letters was inconclusive. The test shows some level of ricin, they said, but the potency is uncertain. They cannot tell whether the material is actually harmful or not. So more tests have been ordered.

Read more: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/17/17794663-feds-arrest-suspect-in-ricin-positive-letters-sent-to-obama-senator?lite

[grantcart]

1. hmmmm

[Rowdyboy]

2. Kenneth Curtis from Tupelo Mississippi..apparently he writes lots of angry letters to congresspeople

Damn that was some fast work. Can't WAIT to learn more about this asshole!

Link http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/17/17794663-feds-arrest-suspect-in-ricin-positive-letters-sent-to-obama-senator?lite

"Federal agents on Wednesday arrested a suspect in the mailing of letters to President Barack Obama and a US senator that initially tested positive for the poison ricin.

The suspect was identified as Kenneth Curtis of Tupelo, Miss.

Both letters carried an identical closing statement, according to an FBI bulletin obtained by NBC News on Wednesday.

According to the FBI bulletin, both letters, postmarked April 8, 2013 out of Memphis, Tenn., included an identical phrase, "to see a wrong and not expose it, is to become a silent partner to its continuance."

In addition, both letters are signed: "I am KC and I approve this message."

[arely staircase]

5. not an Ay-rab? as Mr. Curtis of Tupelo Miss. might say

eom

[Rowdyboy]

6. My hunch would be you are correct....

Senator Wicker voted to allow the gun bill to come for a vote (he voted FOR the filibuster today however). That initial vote though was probably enough to push a nutcase over the edge.

[Voice for Peace]

31. maybe the hint of a threat on his life changed his mind?

[Posteritatis]

7. The fact that he was signing his letters probably helped the investigation.. (nt)

[Voice for Peace]

32. he's probably been longing to get arrested

[hlthe2b]

10. Oh, No! Not Festus!

Ken Curtis (Gunsmoke)
(sorry, but I needed to lighten up some of the horrendous news today

[arely staircase]

14. lol eom

[Rowdyboy]

16. Unless he's a vampire or a zombie he's in the clear....

That Ken passed away in 1991, sadly. What a comedian.

[Old and In the Way]

22. That's Ken Curtis to you Sir! Not to be mistaken for former great Republican gov from Maine.

This is Ken Curtis, DUMBASS! I already know his flawed political ideologies without having to read them. He's all that is wrong with our politics today. Dumbass votes against his best interests.

[Harry Monroe]

33. That boy ain't too bright!!

I heard it was reported that Kenneth Curtis was a regular crank letter writer to Congress. And then, to sign them "I'm KC, and I approve this message"? How long do you think it took even the most dim bulb FBI agent to put 2+2 together and compare the handwriting on the letters he wrote in the past to the ricin letters?

He should have saved himself the trouble of 2 possible life sentences by just voting against Wicker in the next Senate election. Hate to say it, because I live in this state, but his stupidity only reinforces the stereotype that we are stupid, backwards, redneck and inbred down heah!!

[DJ13]

3. Did anyone ask John King?

[MinneapolisMatt]

4. !

[chillfactor]

13. Now THAT is funny!

[uppityperson]

8. Was he wearing a sweatshirt, carrying a backpack, with a cap on? Or no cap? Not holding my breath

[Ilsa]

9. Did he make the ricin?

I wonder how he got it.

[Rowdyboy]

20. I've known gardeners down here who grow castor beans....

They do well in our climate.

[SCVDem]

11. A Red State Resident!

Never woulda thunk it!

How many misspelled protest signs does he have?

[kestrel91316]

12. Sorry. I don't believe the media. When LE says so in a press conference I'll believe it.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

15. It took 7 days?

From Tupelo to Washington?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[MADem]

40. Everything goes to the "special handling facility" in MD. 7 days isn't out of line.

People who "know" someone who works on the Hill get around that whole business by sending stuff to their home address. It's not terribly "legal" but people do it all the time, if you need to get paperwork to someone in a hurry. Otherwise it is a slow process. If you can e-mail stuff, that's the best way to go.

[bbernardini]

17. What's his FR screen name? nt

[onehandle]

19. WayneLaPierre. nt

[msanthrope]

27. JimRob. nt

[Harry Monroe]

18. I'm sure the return address on the envelope was a dead giveaway.

Being from Mississippi, I wouldn't put that sort of stupidity past him. And before I get flamed from anyone else from Mississippi, I also live in this wretched state.

[Rowdyboy]

21. I've been stuck in this hellhole most of my life so I feel your pain.....

[Harry Monroe]

23. I live and work on the MS Gulf Coast. Lived up in the NE section of the state for years.

In Starkville, about an hour south of Tupelo. Some of the attitudes I see on the Coast make Starkville look downright liberal in comparison.

[Rowdyboy]

24. I spent 10 miserable years just down the road from Starkville in West Point....

Most of the last 25 in Canton, just north of Jackson. The coast would be nice-if only for the proximity to New Orleans and Mobile.

Nice to know they're a few of us here.

[Harry Monroe]

29. I live in Biloxi for exactly that reason

My work often takes me into New Orleans and Mobile, so I'm pretty much mid-way in between.

[Voice for Peace]

36. haha... thanks for a rare glimpse into the misery of Mississippi loving company

I have a romantic image of the state, but have never been there.

[Rowdyboy]

49. Natchez and Vicksburg are lovely to look at, The coast can be fun and the Jackson

area is tolerable. You can find good people everywhere but they're badly outnumbered. I should know-I've been here most of 59 years.

Lots of beautiful architecture, historic homes, fine gardens and good restaurants scattered among the less likeable areas.

[appacom]

51. All I can think of is Nina Simone's Mississippi Goddam

[wendylaroux]

25. Kc arrested?

will the Sunshine band be questioned?

[FSogol]

26. Long overdue. n/t

[NBachers]

47. OK Wendylaroux, you get the laugh of the day award

[Rowdyboy]

28. An updated report refers to the suspect as "Paul Kevin Curtis"

Not sure which is correct at this point

[NorthCarolina]

34. Sometimes in the South

folks will go by their middle name, so I'm not really surprised.

[carolinayellowdog]

30. Elvis impersonator extraordinaire

wow

[Voice for Peace]

37. is that the guy??

[carolinayellowdog]

43. unless there's another unstable guy named Paul Kevin Curtis in Tupelo n/t

[Quixote1818]

46. It's him for sure

See this other thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2696456

[sufrommich]

38. His name isn't Kevin,it's Kenneth.nt

[carolinayellowdog]

42. see #28, I'm not illiterate

just better informed than the OP

[Rowdyboy]

44. I've seen both in different stories...everything is still breaking

[AnnieBW]

35. I wonder what his FR handle is?

C'mon.... I know that you guys were thinking it.

[rootstrike]

39. ricin is the new anthrax; Boston is the new WTC 911, and North Korea

ricin is the new anthrax; Boston is the new WTC 911, and North Korea/Kim is the new Al Qaeda/Osama.

And what is the goal this time? Maintaining that fat military budget during budget negotiations.

[uppityperson]

41. Welcome to DU. How did you find us? I am curious, and welcome. Indeed, fat military budget

needs maintaining.

[Marie Marie]

48. Welcome rootstrike.

[Tx4obama]

45. Kick n/t

[Lamonte]

50. Ricin

Probably not a liberal.

[Amonester]

52. At least that suspected felon has been 'listened' to!

"to see a wrong and not expose it, is to become a silent partner to its continuance."

Seems like his own wrong got exposed here, although he hasn't been convicted yet.

Maybe this will teach a lesson to the multi-million others who threaten the President daily on bookface et al?11??1111

[kickysnana]

53. Might as well check him for shooting the elephant too. n/t

[Tx4obama]

54. Kick n/t