In April 2013, ricin-laced letters were sent to a U.S. senator, President Obama, and a Mississippi judge, prompting a federal investigation.
Key Facts
- Date first letter intercepted
- April 15, 2013
- Letter addressed to
- Senator Roger Wicker (Mississippi)
- Second positive test date
- April 17, 2013
- Target of second letter
- President Barack Obama
- Letters postmarked from
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Signature used
- "I am KC and I approve this message."
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
An unidentified individual with grievances they believed were being ignored mailed letters containing ricin to high-profile targets in April 2013. The letters referenced 'missing pieces' and implied a willingness to cause harm in order to draw attention to their complaints, signed with the initials 'KC.'
Between April 10 and April 17, 2013, at least three letters testing positive for ricin were intercepted or received by authorities. Targets included Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, President Barack Obama, and Lee County Justice Court Judge Sadie Holland. The letters were postmarked in Memphis, Tennessee, and contained near-identical threatening language.
The FBI investigated the ricin mailings, and the case was later featured in the 2024 Netflix docuseries 'The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga.' The incident highlighted ongoing security vulnerabilities in mail delivery to federal officials and renewed scrutiny of biological threat detection procedures at government mail facilities.