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American Morning
FBI Profiler Is Figuring Out Mind Of Anthrax Mailer
Aired November 16, 2001 - 09:25 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: It was October 2nd when America first came to terms with anthrax in the mail. Four people have died from inhalation anthrax, and Americans have been on edge fearing another wave of bioterrorism. Well, since then, an international investigation has failed to turn up any concrete clues. So, the FBI's focus has now been on getting inside the mind of the killer.
Our Susan Candiotti sat down to talk with the FBI profiler assigned to the case.
Good morning, Susan.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
ZAHN: Must have been fascinating. What did you learn?
CANDIOTTI: It was. Well, investigators are not excluding a possible foreign agent. However, authorities are leaning in the direction of a domestic-based terrorist. Homeland Security Director, Tom Ridge repeating that theory again last night on "Larry King Live." FBI profiler, James Fitzgerald is one of the agents trying to get inside the head of whoever is behind the anthrax letters.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI: Are you going to solve this one?
JAMES FITZGERALD, FBI PROFILER: Absolutely. No question.
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): FBI profiler James Fitzgerald told CNN he is convinced someone out there knows who's behind the anthrax letters.
FITZGERALD: We don't this person's living in a cabin in the woods, although you can't rule anything out today. But, he must have some relationship or correspondence or communication with some other people.
CANDIOTTI: FBI officials say while it's possible the person behind the anthrax was not born in America...
FITZGERALD: This seems to be more of a -- of a domestic participation or involvement in this, with a lone male who doesn't have any direct connections to any foreign governments.
CANDIOTTI: The profile suggests a loner, who may have had access to as little as $2500 of lab equipment. Someone who knows the Trenton area, where the letters were mailed, but may not have lived there. Likely an opportunist who used September 11th as an excuse to launch his attacks.
FITZGERALD: We think he reacted to the incidents of September 11th as sort of what he saw as his cover to carry out some sort of a plan that he may have had in the back of his mind to just put -- mail -- mail this anthrax to various victims for whatever personal reason he may have or whatever agenda he may have.
CANDIOTTI: But why target Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, NBC's Tom Brokaw and the "NEW YORK POST".
FITZGERALD: This is somebody who may argue with the TV set while these people are on, or they may have said something the weeks or months before that pushed him over the edge. That he just felt these were the people he wanted to get his product out to.
CANDIOTTI: Key clues come from the letters.
(on camera): Do you think he misspelled penicillin on purpose?
FITZGERALD: The Spelling of penicillin may be, in effect, a way for him to sort of dumb down, to make it look like he's somebody other than who he really is. What we find most interesting is the fourth line, "Are you afraid?" He somehow...
CANDIOTTI: Why do you find that particularly...
FITZGERALD: He somehow wanted to know the answer to that. Maybe fear and maybe empowerment...
CANDIOTTI: Did he succeed?
FITZGERALD: Yes, he did. He succeeded individually and nationwide in accomplishing his goal in terms of making people afraid.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI (on camera): Profiler Fitzgerald suggests the anthrax suspect may be scared a bit too, of getting caught. If they're right, what agents need is for him to slip-up. So far, Paula, that has not happened.
ZAHN: All right. That was just fascinating. Thanks Susan. Have a good weekend.
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