Ricin Investigation.(Investigations)

Kenneth R. Olsen was a technician for Agilent Technologies in Liberty Lake, Spokane County, Washington, before being terminated for downloading illicit information from the Internet while at work. The information detailed how to kill with undetectable poisons, how to dispense ricin, and how to make explosives. At the time of his arrest, approximately three grams of a suspicious white powder that proved to be ricin were found in a makeshift laboratory in his office workspace.

Laboratory Hazardous Materials Response Unit personnel collected, screened, and transported evidence found in Olsen's home, car, and workspace. The U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases in Fort Detrick, Maryland, identified the powder taken from Olsen's office workspace as 20 percent ricin. Ricin is a toxic protein derived from the castor seed. It is estimated that as little as 0.2 to 0.4 mg may be sufficient to kill a 165-pound person if inhaled or injected.

Laboratory Chemistry Unit personnel were deployed to Fort Detrick to assist in reanalyzing the materials. When a sample of the material was rendered safe, it and additional evidence from the investigation were sent to the Laboratory for testing in the Chemistry and Questioned Documents Units.

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