Nancy Hegwood

I got an email from the American Society of Microbiology asking every single member to please think about who might have been involved in some way in these attacks because it takes expertise and access to have done this.

I got an email from the American Society of Microbiology asking every single member to please think about who might have been involved in some way in these attacks because it takes expertise and access to have done this.

I remember reading that and immediately having a terrible sinking feeling, just a gut feeling. Oh my God, this could be Bruce.

I remember reading that and immediately having a terrible sinking feeling, just a gut feeling. Oh my God, this could be Bruce.

Bruce had collected a group of people he was emailing on a regular basis, and I happened to be one of those people on the string.

Bruce had collected a group of people he was emailing on a regular basis, and I happened to be one of those people on the string.

It is not at all normal to send a picture of yourself to other scientists. And in the photograph, you can clearly see that he was not wearing gloves, which was the normal procedure for all microbiological work.

It is not at all normal to send a picture of yourself to other scientists. And in the photograph, you can clearly see that he was not wearing gloves, which was the normal procedure for all microbiological work.

I was nervous. I mean, it's strange to do something like that, especially without any proof. But I just had a terrible feeling it could be Bruce. So I called the FBI that day. I just told them I was concerned and I would appreciate them looking into it, and eventually they did.

I was nervous. I mean, it's strange to do something like that, especially without any proof. But I just had a terrible feeling it could be Bruce. So I called the FBI that day. I just told them I was concerned and I would appreciate them looking into it, and eventually they did.

So I began to think that they were looking into the possibility he might have been involved a little more seriously.

So I began to think that they were looking into the possibility he might have been involved a little more seriously.

Bruce is a very friendly guy, and he was a little quirky from the start, but he was serious about his scientific work and was clearly interested in getting to know others since he was relatively new.

Bruce is a very friendly guy, and he was a little quirky from the start, but he was serious about his scientific work and was clearly interested in getting to know others since he was relatively new.

He was very interested and took a somewhat out of proportion interest in that and asked lots of questions about what did I know about the cipher book and any of that stuff. And I said, this is secret stuff and we're not going to talk about this anymore. I just thought it was very strange.

He was very interested and took a somewhat out of proportion interest in that and asked lots of questions about what did I know about the cipher book and any of that stuff. And I said, this is secret stuff and we're not going to talk about this anymore. I just thought it was very strange.

I came into work one day and discovered that my lab notebook was not there. And I didn't worry too much. I figured perhaps somebody had come in and borrowed it from, you know, somebody else in my laboratory or my PI might have done that, my professor. But no one seemed to know where it was. So then I started to worry a little bit.

I came into work one day and discovered that my lab notebook was not there. And I didn't worry too much. I figured perhaps somebody had come in and borrowed it from, you know, somebody else in my laboratory or my PI might have done that, my professor. But no one seemed to know where it was. So then I started to worry a little bit.

Shortly thereafter, I received a note at my home that the notebook had been deposited in a U.S. mailbox downtown in Chapel Hill, which is sort of a one-host office box town.

Shortly thereafter, I received a note at my home that the notebook had been deposited in a U.S. mailbox downtown in Chapel Hill, which is sort of a one-host office box town.

I alerted the police, the Chapel Hill police, and eventually they and the post office were able to open the sealed box and there was my notebook.

I alerted the police, the Chapel Hill police, and eventually they and the post office were able to open the sealed box and there was my notebook.

The police asked me what I thought might have happened. And I said, I suppose it's some kind of prank, but I can't imagine anybody would really do this. It's rather cruel. And I didn't really think anybody from my own lab would do that. And I said, the one person that I'm a little suspicious of doesn't live here anymore. And that's Bruce Ivins.

The police asked me what I thought might have happened. And I said, I suppose it's some kind of prank, but I can't imagine anybody would really do this. It's rather cruel. And I didn't really think anybody from my own lab would do that. And I said, the one person that I'm a little suspicious of doesn't live here anymore. And that's Bruce Ivins.

over the subsequent years since i met bruce and while i was finishing my phd i think that bruce had exhibited more oddball behavior than i had originally seen and i was starting to feel kind of uncomfortable around him and i remember actually talking to him and saying that i i wish him well but that He was married. I'm not really looking for a friend.

over the subsequent years since i met bruce and while i was finishing my phd i think that bruce had exhibited more oddball behavior than i had originally seen and i was starting to feel kind of uncomfortable around him and i remember actually talking to him and saying that i i wish him well but that He was married. I'm not really looking for a friend.

And I attempted to, I won't say cut off the relationship, but make it clear to him that certainly anything other than the occasional hello in the lab was not really that welcome.

And I attempted to, I won't say cut off the relationship, but make it clear to him that certainly anything other than the occasional hello in the lab was not really that welcome.

I called Bruce because that had his fingerprints all over it and said, Bruce, I really do not appreciate this. I believe you're the only person who would have done something like this. And he denied it, but it was clear that he had done that.

I called Bruce because that had his fingerprints all over it and said, Bruce, I really do not appreciate this. I believe you're the only person who would have done something like this. And he denied it, but it was clear that he had done that.

I'd never known anyone like that. Scientists are pretty weird people, but this is a far another order of magnitude or two beyond that.

I'd never known anyone like that. Scientists are pretty weird people, but this is a far another order of magnitude or two beyond that.

They asked if I would be willing to meet with him, and I ultimately decided not to do that because I thought it was too dangerous. And I had two young children, and I just didn't want to do it.

They asked if I would be willing to meet with him, and I ultimately decided not to do that because I thought it was too dangerous. And I had two young children, and I just didn't want to do it.