Analysis of Anthrax Letters & Envelopes
Also available:
Tom Brokaw letter Senator Daschle letter letter to Editor envelope to Editor
What to look for if you receive a suspicious arriving envelope or
package:
* All capital letters (w/ emphasis on first letter of word larger
than rest of word)
* Descending baselines
* Excessive letter spacing within words and lines
* Poor and irregular rhythm
* Slow and crude script
* Unknown, incorrect or mysterious return address
* Straight left margin of mailing address
* Inflated level of importance placed on the envelope itself
(i.e. markings such as "confidential", "personal", "hand deliver",
"top priority", etc.)
* Exaggerated size of letters and numbers
* Letters and numbers made in pieces (segmented):
* Three piece number
"1" as shown here with top hat and feet
* Capital letter "Y"
constructed in pieces
* Capital "R" made
like a "P" with right leg added on
* Capital "W" made
in stick pieces
Personality of the author of the envelopes:
* The below personality profile is consistent with a person skilled
in managing a dangerous substance such as anthrax.
Despite this, it cannot be concluded with certainty
that the writer of the letters is the sole manager and/ or creator
of the anthrax even though it is highly probable.
* Suicidal, severely depressed individual
* Sociopathic character
* Meticulous, perfectionistic and technical temperament
* Rigid, consistent and predictable behavior due to neurotic
compulsions and thinking
* Fanatical, extremist beliefs
* Deep seated hatred: violent, aggressive tendencies
* Domineering and controlling of others psychologically, but
avoids conflict directly
* Likely a male, single, unattached, isolated from family and
friends and eccentric in life style
* Cowardly and lacks independent thought
* Poorly developed social skills
* Controlled, calculating, objective, flat personality
* High degree of patience and slow moving
* Unlikely to have a career which involves people, sponteneity,
charm or quick decisions (sales, business leader, customer
service, waiter, etc.) More likely:
self or unemployed, technical or physical work, accounting, drafting, driving,
where
his introverted, meticulous temperament are desirable
and compatable with job expectations.
* Introverted; passive aggressive (avoids direct conflict,
retaliates behind one's back rather than openly complaining or
confronting others). Socially reserved
and invisible.
* Sees self as only a "pawn" when conducting the anthrax
attack, rather than an ego maniac who takes credit for attack.
The letter writer does not see himself (likely a
male) as important in the attack, but rather as one of many who represent
a cause. So, despite the fact he is an introvert
and emotionally isolated from others, he identifies himself with others
of
his cause. (Notice the omission of a signature,
symbol or group name claiming credit for the anthrax attacks.) This
suggests that the sender of the letter does not
see himself as significant in the mission.
* Emphasizing the date of the bombing 09-11-01 (enlarged and
use of zeros) in an effort to stretch out the terror of that date
* Improper spelling of "penacilin" (sic) suggests writer not
scientifically trained or a professional. This misspelling in
not
likely intentional, as misspellings which are intentional
are rarely the most difficult word in the letter written.
* Date order of day, then month, suggests some comfort with American
way of writing, whereas overseas cultures
train students to place month, then day on dates
(referring to date of 09-11-01). Also, these letters were written
from
left-to-right as Americans write, not right-to-left
as people do in the Middle East. (Notice straight left margins which
suggest left-to-right.) Other features however,
suggest a tremendous discomfort or unfamiliarity with American script and
etiquette. In conclusion, writing likely written
by person with some but only limited familiarity with American style script.
In fact, it excludes writers from countries which
teach alphabetic forms: Europe, Mexico, etc. but does not exclude
writers from the Middle East, China, etc. which
do not teach the English style lettering.
* Writer attempts to disguise handwriting but does not attempt
to alter style from one letter to another or from envelope to
envelope. This suggests author doesn't care
that investigators know one person authored all writing samples involved
in this
case. Other indications, however, such as,
"THIS ANTHRAX" is poorly written and represents a poor command of our
language (this, unfortunately, is true of some Americans
too).
* Writer writes the word "GREAT" when saying "ALLAH IS GREAT"
yet the "G" in "GREAT" is no larger than other letters
in the word. For this writer, that is unusual,
suggesting that the author does not really believe that Allah is great,
otherwise
the "G" in "GREAT" would have been taller than other
letters in word as found in remainder of writing.
* Although the author wants to kill Americans as substantiated
by the insertion of anthrax, the author is more interested in
terrifying Americans than killing them. (Our
reason for saying this is confidential so as to not educate the terrorist.)
Same author of all three envelopes and letters?:
* Yes . . .
* Same individual letter construction
* Same overall form level
* Irregular letter, baseline consistencies
* Identical and unusual baseline violations or right leg of "R"
and other letters
* Same letter segmentation
* Same poor rhythm
* Same capital enlargements at word beginnings even with all
capital letters
* Unusual number "1" with copybook three piece construction
* Over 40 other more subtle commonalities that we will not make
public
What makes this difficult to analyze?:
* Envelope writing in general, unlike one's normal handwriting,
must be legible (to insure postal delivery); therefore, author is
more cognizant about how the envelope writing appears.
This heightened awareness often affects the handwriting style as
being self-conscious alters one's behavior (and
writing)
* Limited amount of handwriting
* Disguised handwriting . . . likely written with wrong hand
* Capital letters were only letters provided, which limits scope
of analysis
Notes to readers: if you have any insights you would like to share
with us please feel free to contact our offices. If you
have any information of substance regarding these crimes, contact the
F.B.I. in your area. Let's get this case solved!!!!