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CNN Live Today
Police Call Bondeson Prime Suspect in Poisonings
Aired May 05, 2003 - 11:10 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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now we want to turn to the mystery -- murder mystery in Maine. Police say that Daniel Bondeson is the prime suspect in the arsenic poisonings at a New Sweden church. Bondeson died Friday apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The arsenic laced coffee killed one parishioner and sickened 15 others. CNN's Jamie Colby's on the story for us in New Sweden, this morning -- Jamie.
JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, good morning to you. The toughest part for the more than 600 -- slightly more than 600 people who live in New Sweden is first accepting that something like this happened, an arsenic poisoning at their church; but second, they are really overcome with disbelief that it may have been done by one of their own, a parishioner at the church, as you said, Daniel Bondeson.
Later today, police say they will release the results of an autopsy on Bondeson, as you mentioned, he died of a gunshot wound on Friday, apparent self-inflicted is what they had previously said. Now they say if, in fact, it was not that may indicate that there may be other suspects in the poisoning. But, the "Bangor Daily News," Leon, is reporting that a relative of Bondeson was told that a suicide note was left, that apologized for the arsenic poisoning. All of these answers up in the air, we may learn more about the 2:00 press conference, where the release the results of the autopsy report.
In the meantime, when you talk to people in New Sweden, they all know Bondeson, or knew him. It's a community where people know people's first names; they know the mother's maiden names. And there's shock and disbelief, when you ask someone, tell us about Daniel Bondeson, as you're about to hear.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEN URQUHART, SUSPECT'S NEIGHBOR: Looks like he did it. No idea what in the world he was thinking, what his motives are, that he was troubled to that extent. I don't know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLBY: It's a really tough time for the people here. Police say that in their thorough search of Bondeson's home on Friday, they did uncover evidence, Leon, that would indicate a motive, but they are not saying at this time what that motive might be -- Leon.
HARRIS: Well, Jamie, do the authorities there have any other indication that there may be anyone else involved? I know you're saying they're going to wait for the autopsy to come back and determine whether or not this man killed himself. But, is there any evidence pointing to anyone else?
COLBY: Well, the question really is how would the arsenic have gotten in the coffeepot that was used that day after the service? Bondeson did not attend services that day, although he was there the day before for a bake sale they had at the church, so the question is was it placed there before, was someone else there that day? At this time they're not naming anybody else as a likely suspect, really the focus is on Bondeson and that autopsy -- Leon.
HARRIS: Jamie Colby in New Sweden Maine, thanks, Jamie.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 5, 2003 - 11:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now we want to turn to the mystery -- murder mystery in Maine. Police say that Daniel Bondeson is the prime suspect in the arsenic poisonings at a New Sweden church. Bondeson died Friday apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The arsenic laced coffee killed one parishioner and sickened 15 others. CNN's Jamie Colby's on the story for us in New Sweden, this morning -- Jamie.
JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, good morning to you. The toughest part for the more than 600 -- slightly more than 600 people who live in New Sweden is first accepting that something like this happened, an arsenic poisoning at their church; but second, they are really overcome with disbelief that it may have been done by one of their own, a parishioner at the church, as you said, Daniel Bondeson.
Later today, police say they will release the results of an autopsy on Bondeson, as you mentioned, he died of a gunshot wound on Friday, apparent self-inflicted is what they had previously said. Now they say if, in fact, it was not that may indicate that there may be other suspects in the poisoning. But, the "Bangor Daily News," Leon, is reporting that a relative of Bondeson was told that a suicide note was left, that apologized for the arsenic poisoning. All of these answers up in the air, we may learn more about the 2:00 press conference, where the release the results of the autopsy report.
In the meantime, when you talk to people in New Sweden, they all know Bondeson, or knew him. It's a community where people know people's first names; they know the mother's maiden names. And there's shock and disbelief, when you ask someone, tell us about Daniel Bondeson, as you're about to hear.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEN URQUHART, SUSPECT'S NEIGHBOR: Looks like he did it. No idea what in the world he was thinking, what his motives are, that he was troubled to that extent. I don't know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLBY: It's a really tough time for the people here. Police say that in their thorough search of Bondeson's home on Friday, they did uncover evidence, Leon, that would indicate a motive, but they are not saying at this time what that motive might be -- Leon.
HARRIS: Well, Jamie, do the authorities there have any other indication that there may be anyone else involved? I know you're saying they're going to wait for the autopsy to come back and determine whether or not this man killed himself. But, is there any evidence pointing to anyone else?
COLBY: Well, the question really is how would the arsenic have gotten in the coffeepot that was used that day after the service? Bondeson did not attend services that day, although he was there the day before for a bake sale they had at the church, so the question is was it placed there before, was someone else there that day? At this time they're not naming anybody else as a likely suspect, really the focus is on Bondeson and that autopsy -- Leon.
HARRIS: Jamie Colby in New Sweden Maine, thanks, Jamie.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
