Anthrax suspect's mental state questioned

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Aggressive tactics by FBI investigators against anthrax attack suspect Bruce Ivins plunged him into substance abuse and depression, sources say.

The Washington Post reported Wednesday that more details are emerging about the FBI's pursuit of Ivins as the suspected perpetrator of the 2001 anthrax letter terror killings in which five people died and 17 were sickened. Ivins allegedly committed suicide last month as investigators sought to convince a grand jury to issue a murder indictment against him.

Many new details of the case, the Post said, raise questions about Ivins's mental health and the psychological effects the intense FBI scrutiny had on him.

The newspaper quoted a fellow scientist who was helping Ivins deal with substance abuse issues as saying Ivins complained that FBI agents confronted his 24-year-old daughter with pictures of the victims and told her, "Your father did this." Agents also allegedly approached her twin brother with a $2.5 million reward for solving the anthrax case and offering him a sports car.

The scientist said the FBI contacts with his children plunged Ivins into a depression and made him act erratically.