The Army scientist accused of being the anthrax killer had been taken into custody by authorities for psychological tests less than three weeks before he committed suicide, according to government documents released Wednesday.
Bruce E. Ivins was committed to the Fredericks Memorial Hospital on July 10 after a social worker reported to police that the microbiologist had threatened to kill colleagues at the Fort Detrick biodefense laboratory, according to an law enforcement affidavit.
Ivins had remained at the hospital for at least one day, documents show. It’s unclear when and why Ivins was released from the hospital. Hospital officials did not return phone calls Wednesday.
On July 9, as the seven-year long investigation into the anthrax killings began closing in on Ivins, the 62-year-old man revealed to members of a group therapy session that federal agents suspected him of the anthrax attacks which killed five people.
Ivins said he would kill his co-workers and other people who had wronged him rather than face arrest and ultimately “the death penalty,” according to affidavits.
He told the group that he had a bulletproof vest and would obtain a firearm from his son.
The next day a social worker who led the therapy session alerted Frederick police.
Officers tracked down Ivins at his Fort Detrick office and determined that he should be taken to the hospital for a mental health care evaulation, said Frederick police spokesman Lt. Clark Pennington.
Pennington said he does not know when Ivins was released from the medical center. Hospital officials typically notify police when they release patients brought for mental evaluation, Pennington said.
On July 27, Ivins was found unconscious on his bathroom floor at his home at 622 Military Road. He was rushed back to Frederick Memorial where he died two days later. Ivins had taken a massive dose of a prescription Tylenol mixed with codeine, authorities said.
In recent moths, Ivins had been telling friends and co-workers that he was being hounded by authorities, investigators said. Ivins told one friend that his attorney told him to prepare to be indicted.
