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American Morning
Autopsy Today for Man Possibly Linked to Arsenic Poisoning
Aired May 05, 2003 - 10:24 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: Homicide investigators in Maine are awaiting an autopsy scheduled today for a man who attended the church where some arsenic-spiked coffee was served last weekend. Now, he was not among those killed or sickened by that toxic brew. Instead, police say that he may have been involved in the killing.
Our Jamie Colby is standing by in New Sweden, Maine. She's got the very latest.
Good morning -- Jamie.
JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, good morning to you.
Like Modesto, this entire community of 600 is deeply affected by what happened at this church a week ago. And for the first time, Maine State Police are telling us that they do consider Daniel Bondeson a primary suspect in the arsenic poisoning that happened at this church. As you said, he was not here the day of the service, and he also died on Friday of a gunshot wound.
The morning paper this morning reporting that a relative is telling them, the "Bangor Daily News," that Bondeson left a suicide note apologizing for the poisoning.
Now, police will not confirm whether the note exists. But what they do say is that this afternoon they will have the results of an autopsy. The autopsy, Leon, is important, because if it was a self- inflicted gunshot wound, there may not be anybody else involved in the case. If it is not and he was shot, they will widen the scope of the investigation and possibly look for other suspects.
They did a thorough investigation of Bondeson's house on Friday, and they do say, state police, that they found evidence that would indicate a motive, though they are not being any more specific than that. Perhaps we'll learn a little more at the 2:00 p.m. press conference this afternoon.
In the meantime, as you said, this town is completely shaken, a very tight community, many involved in this church, many know each other by first name. The paper even saying they know your natural hair color here. They also know Bondeson well, and they are still in shock, as you're about to hear, that he is even being considered in the case.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERICA ANDERSON, CHURCH MEMBER: I loved the man. He was very -- I enjoyed him. He -- growing up, I always saw him here at church with his father, and he was a wonderful man. When people started to say that it may be him, it's not the man I know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLBY: What you hear about Bondeson from many of the people in the community is that he's a very nice guy. They are still in shock. He was also a substitute teacher, and was doing some nursing work at a local nursing home.
We will learn more later today, Leon, and we'll bring it to you this afternoon -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right, thanks, Jamie -- Jamie Colby reporting live for us from New Sweden Maine.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Poisoning>
Aired May 5, 2003 - 10:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Homicide investigators in Maine are awaiting an autopsy scheduled today for a man who attended the church where some arsenic-spiked coffee was served last weekend. Now, he was not among those killed or sickened by that toxic brew. Instead, police say that he may have been involved in the killing.
Our Jamie Colby is standing by in New Sweden, Maine. She's got the very latest.
Good morning -- Jamie.
JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, good morning to you.
Like Modesto, this entire community of 600 is deeply affected by what happened at this church a week ago. And for the first time, Maine State Police are telling us that they do consider Daniel Bondeson a primary suspect in the arsenic poisoning that happened at this church. As you said, he was not here the day of the service, and he also died on Friday of a gunshot wound.
The morning paper this morning reporting that a relative is telling them, the "Bangor Daily News," that Bondeson left a suicide note apologizing for the poisoning.
Now, police will not confirm whether the note exists. But what they do say is that this afternoon they will have the results of an autopsy. The autopsy, Leon, is important, because if it was a self- inflicted gunshot wound, there may not be anybody else involved in the case. If it is not and he was shot, they will widen the scope of the investigation and possibly look for other suspects.
They did a thorough investigation of Bondeson's house on Friday, and they do say, state police, that they found evidence that would indicate a motive, though they are not being any more specific than that. Perhaps we'll learn a little more at the 2:00 p.m. press conference this afternoon.
In the meantime, as you said, this town is completely shaken, a very tight community, many involved in this church, many know each other by first name. The paper even saying they know your natural hair color here. They also know Bondeson well, and they are still in shock, as you're about to hear, that he is even being considered in the case.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERICA ANDERSON, CHURCH MEMBER: I loved the man. He was very -- I enjoyed him. He -- growing up, I always saw him here at church with his father, and he was a wonderful man. When people started to say that it may be him, it's not the man I know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLBY: What you hear about Bondeson from many of the people in the community is that he's a very nice guy. They are still in shock. He was also a substitute teacher, and was doing some nursing work at a local nursing home.
We will learn more later today, Leon, and we'll bring it to you this afternoon -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right, thanks, Jamie -- Jamie Colby reporting live for us from New Sweden Maine.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Poisoning>
