Military veteran charged with attempting to make ricin to remain jailed
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A judge on Friday ordered a Marine Corps veteran and former militia member to remain jailed pending trial on charges he attempted to make ricin, a biological toxin.
Russell Vane, 42, of Vienna, Virginia, was arrested two weeks ago after authorities searched his house and found traces of ricin along with lab equipment and castor beans, from which ricin is derived, in a laundry room in a home he shares with his wife and two young children, according to court papers.
Vane came to authorities’ attention after an online news outlet, News2Share, reported that the Virginia Kekoas militia had severed ties with Vane because they were alarmed by what they considered his loose talk about homemade explosives.
The Kekoas questioned whether he might be a government informant, according to court papers.
The news account prompted a federal investigation and a search of Vane’s northern Virginia home. He was arrested after agents found a plastic bag with castor beans along with a handwritten recipe for extracting ricin from the beans, according to an FBI affidavit.
Related articles
After AP's missing students investigation, children return to school
ATLANTA (AP) — Four months after The Associated Press wrote about an Atlanta family struggling to en2024-05-07Gulf Harbour body: Homicide investigation launched, public asked to help identify victim
Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro2024-05-07NY police to pay $17.5m over hijab mugshot row
By Max Matza for the BBCFile photo. Photo: Nicolas Economou / NurPhoto / AFP2024-05-07Minister for Employment Louise Upston 'really feels' for public servants losing their jobs
Minister for Employment Louise Upston. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver2024-05-07What are tactical nuclear weapons and why did Russia order drills?
Russia’s Defense Ministry said Monday that the military would hold drills involving tactical nuclear2024-05-07The 96th Annual Academy Awards
US actress Emma Stone accepts the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for "Poor Things." Photo:2024-05-07
atest comment