Utah home isolated in ricin investigation

RIVERTON, Utah, March 2 (UPI) -- Authorities have isolated a house in Utah as they investigate how vials of the deadly poison ricin came to be in a Las Vegas motel room.

The FBI is investigating whether two individuals from the small Utah town of Riverton were involved in the incident at the Extended Stay America motel just blocks off the Las Vegas Strip, the Deseret Morning News reported Sunday.

Roger Von Bergendorff, 57, who lived in Riverton until recently, has been in a Las Vegas hospital since Feb. 14, the Salt Lake City newspaper reported. Police say he is unconscious.

After Von Bergendorff became ill, his cousin, Thomas Tholen, went to Las Vegas help him. He found the vials of ricin days later and took them to the motel office.

"These guys have a connection to Utah," FBI Special Agent Juan Becerra told the newspaper. "The reason we're looking at this residence is, that's the lead that was sent to us."

Becerra said there is "no indication of any threat to the public or individuals" in Riverton.