Paul Kevin Curtis, the man charged with sending ricin-laced letters to several politicians last week, has been cleared of all charges, NBC News reports. Fox News reported that Jeff Woodfin, chief deputy of the U.S. Marshals Service in Oxford, Mississippi, confirmed with the Associated Press that Paul was indeed freed.
Two of Fox News’ sources noted that the FBI was looking into the possibility that Paul might have been framed as part of a neighborhood grudge with a local enemy. New case developments surfaced after investigators stated that they hadn’t discovered any ricin in his house.
Agent Brandon Grant also lent more proof to Paul’s alleged innocence after he said that a search of Curtis’ vehicle and house in Corinth, Mississippi on Friday did not turn up ricin or ingredients for the poison. Paul’s computers were also searched, but no no evidence of him researching ricin has been found yet.
Paul’s lawyer, Christi McCoy, denied her clients involvement in the sending of the poisonous letters sent to Obama, Mississippi Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, and a Lee County, Mississippi judge. While in court yesterday, McCoy stated that she believes a former co-worker of Paul may have framed him, due to an extended exchange of angry emails that were seen between the two.
Last Thursday, Paul was charged for his alleged crime. The charges carried a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
Tuesday’s detention hearing for Paul has now been postponed.