TUPELO, MISS. — A second man investigated in connection to ricin-laced letters sent to the president and a U.S. senator said Wednesday that investigators “ripped” through his house during an hours-long search the previous day after charges were dropped against another man in the case.
No charges have been filed against Everett Dutschke, and he hasn’t been arrested. Both he and Paul Kevin Curtis, who had faced charges in the case, say they have no idea how to make the poisonous ricin and had nothing to do with sending the letters to President Barack Obama, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Mississippi county judge Sadie Holland.
Dutschke and Curtis know each other. Dutschke said the two had a disagreement, and the last contact they had was in 2010. Dutschke said he threatened to sue Curtis for saying he was a member of Mensa, a group for people with high IQs.
Dutschke’s home was searched Tuesday by dozens of officials who declined to comment on what they had found or on the next phase of the investigation.
Dutschke said his house was also searched last week. He said he and his wife had gone to a friend’s Wednesday because they didn’t feel safe at their home.
“They ripped everything out of the house,” he said Wednesday morning, adding: “I haven’t slept at all.”
Curtis, a 45-year-old celebrity impersonator, has maintained his innocence since his arrest.
A one-sentence document filed by federal prosecutors said charges against Curtis were dropped, but left open the possibility they could be reinstated if authorities found more to prove their case. Prosecutors were not immediately available for comment, but the document said the ongoing investigation had revealed new information. It did not elaborate.
Since Curtis’ arrest at his Corinth home on April 17, his attorneys have said their client didn’t do it and suggested he was framed. An FBI agent testified in court this week that no evidence of ricin was found in searches of Curtis’ home.
No charges have been filed against Everett Dutschke, and he hasn’t been arrested. Both he and Paul Kevin Curtis, who had faced charges in the case, say they have no idea how to make the poisonous ricin and had nothing to do with sending the letters to President Barack Obama, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Mississippi county judge Sadie Holland.
Dutschke and Curtis know each other. Dutschke said the two had a disagreement, and the last contact they had was in 2010. Dutschke said he threatened to sue Curtis for saying he was a member of Mensa, a group for people with high IQs.
Dutschke’s home was searched Tuesday by dozens of officials who declined to comment on what they had found or on the next phase of the investigation.
Dutschke said his house was also searched last week. He said he and his wife had gone to a friend’s Wednesday because they didn’t feel safe at their home.
“They ripped everything out of the house,” he said Wednesday morning, adding: “I haven’t slept at all.”
Curtis, a 45-year-old celebrity impersonator, has maintained his innocence since his arrest.
A one-sentence document filed by federal prosecutors said charges against Curtis were dropped, but left open the possibility they could be reinstated if authorities found more to prove their case. Prosecutors were not immediately available for comment, but the document said the ongoing investigation had revealed new information. It did not elaborate.
Since Curtis’ arrest at his Corinth home on April 17, his attorneys have said their client didn’t do it and suggested he was framed. An FBI agent testified in court this week that no evidence of ricin was found in searches of Curtis’ home.