Tonight on Frontline: UW Prof Talks Anthrax Scare

On the heels of the Sept., 11 attacks came another case of terrorism: the anthrax scares. Tonight, PBS Frontline looks back at the case and interviews University of Wyoming Department of Veterinary Medicine Assistant Professor Jeffrey Adamovics, who previously worked with the prime suspect in the case, Bruce Ivins.

Five people were killed by anthrax spores delivered via the mail.

Adamovics and fellow UW Professor Gerry Andrews worked with Ivins at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infections Disease (USAMRIID) in Frederick, Md, in 2001. The FBI later concluded the anthrax used in the attacks was produced at USAMRIID.

Adamovics will defend Ivins in the program and argue scientific evidence clearly shows the anthrax in question was not produced at USAMRIID. The two University of Wyoming professors believe that Ivans could not have been responsible for the bioterrorism, and the FBI was after the wrong men for seven years.

The investigation was the most expensive and complex undertaken by the agency. Ivins committed suicide July 29, 2008, and the case was subsequently closed when the Bureau identified the late Ivins as the sole perpetrator of the mailings, after settling a multi-million dollar lawsuit against another man they had initially identified as a suspect, Steven Hatfill.

Three years after Ivin's suicide, the case continues to intrigue. Besides Adamovic's defense of his former colleague, at least two congressmen have recently called for an independent panel to review the Bureau's findings.

Check your local broadcast listing’s for the PBS Frontline Special “The Anthrax Files airing Tuesday October 11th.

Information courtesy of the University of Wyoming. Reported by Garrett Adams, editing by Jon Green.