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Traces of ricin and a drawing of an injection device were found in a West Jordan storage unit rented by a man who was charged Wednesday with possessing the deadly biological toxin, court documents state.
Roger Von Bergendorff, 57, was arrested Wednesday morning after he was released from a hospital in Las Vegas, where he fell critically ill in February with symptoms consistent with ricin exposure. Vials of the potent toxin were later found in his Las Vegas hotel room. He is being held in a Las Vegas jail.
Federal agents in March searched storage units Bergendorff rented at Jordan Self Storage, 9528 S. Bagley Park Road (5230 West), where they discovered a mortar that tested positive for ricin, investigators wrote. They also found laboratory equipment, chemicals and castor beans - the ingredient from which ricin is derived.
In interviews at the hospital, Bergendorff admitted to making ricin in Utah, possibly in the basement of his cousin's Riverton home, investigators wrote. In 2005 and 2006, Bergendorff lived with his cousin, 54-year-old Thomas Tholen, who was indicted April 2 on a federal charge that he knew about the ricin and didn't tell authorities about it.
Tholen first alerted police when he visited Bergendorff's Las Vegas motel room in February to collect his cousin's belongings; Bergendorff was hospitalized and in a coma. Tholen discovered a bag containing beans and vials of a powder that later tested positive for ricin
In a follow-up interview, Tholen told agents that Bergendorff began discussing ricin in 2005, commenting on "how easy it would be to make," investigators wrote. Tholen added he had seen formulas and recipes for dangerous substances among Bergendorff's belongings. Later that year, Bergendorff showed him a vial containing a powder Tholen believed to be ricin, investigators wrote.
Tholen also provided a will Bergendorff allegedly signed in January 2007, investigators wrote. In the will, Bergendorff wrote that "Tom, or whoever is closest to my storage unit; (sic) should go immediately and remove all of the valuables . . . otherwise the IRS or other entity might get them," investigators quoted in the charges.
The will identified three lockers at Jordan Self Storage and listed combinations for two safes, with a note next to one that indicated "this safe has some illegal and dangerous items in it."
Agents searched the storage lockers, which contained the contaminated mortar and other materials used to produce ricin. They also found a design of an injection device disguised as a pen. Bergendorff admitted to drawing the device but described it as "sick stuff," investigators wrote.
Bergendorff went on to say there are people who have made him mad, and he made plans to harm them but never acted on those thoughts, investigators wrote. He called the production of ricin an "exotic idea."
Agents also searched Tholen's home March 2 but detected no traces of ricin, but Tholen "believes that Bergendorff produced this ricin in his basement in Utah," investigators wrote.
Uncertainty as to where the ricin was produced led authorities to seal the information that traces of ricin were found in Utah, as well as in Las Vegas, and Bergendorff may have traveled with the substance, said FBI spokesman Juan Becerra.
"We've never been able to conclusively prove that he carried that ricin or that he did make it here in Utah," Becerra said. "Our issue in searching was, No.1, do we have a public safety threat? . . . Based on the experts who handled the hazardous materials, we felt comfortable going to the press and telling them that it did not represent a public threat to anyone at that point."
Bergendorff was charged with possession of a biological toxin, possession of unregistered firearms - guns found in the Las Vegas motel room - and possession of firearms not identified by serial number. Along with the guns, authorities found two silencers that Bergendorff claimed he made himself "because they were fun," investigators wrote.
MARCH 12: Roger Von Bergendorff admitted to making ricin in Reno and Utah.
APRIL 16: He was arrested after being released from the hospital.
An investigator in a hazardous material suit exits a home in Riverton in March during a search for traces of the deadly toxin ricin in Riverton.
Roger Von Bergendorff developed critical symptoms consistent with ricin exposure and was hospitalized in Las Vegas - Feb. 14
Staff at Bergendorff's motel discovered several weapons and a recipe for ricin in his room - Feb. 26
Thomas Tholen, Bergendorff's cousin, discovered vials of ricin and hypodermic needles in a bag in the motel room - Feb. 28
Agents discovered traces of ricin in a storage unit Bergendorff rented in West Jordan - March 2
Bergendorff's condition improved, and he allegedly admitted to making ricin in Reno and Utah - March 12
Bergendorff is arrested upon his release from the hospital - March 17.
* Feb. 14: Roger Von Bergendorff developed critical symptoms consistent with ricin exposure and was hospitalized in Las Vegas.
* Feb. 26: Staff at Bergendorff's motel discovered several weapons and a recipe for ricin in his room.
* Feb. 28: Thomas Tholen, Bergendorff's cousin, discovered vials of ricin and hypodermic needles in a bag in the motel room.
* March 2: Agents discovered traces of ricin in a storage unit Bergendorff rented in West Jordan.
* March 12: Bergendorff's condition improved, and he allegedly admitted to making ricin in Reno and Utah.
* April 16: Bergendorff is arrested upon his release from the hospital.