Man Held Ricin for “Self-Defense,” Brother Says

A man hospitalized for more than a month with severe respiratory and kidney problems possessed vials of ricin for “self-defense” and did not intend to launch an attack with the deadly toxin, the man’s brother told the Associated Press (see GSN, March 17).

Roger Bergendorff, 57, regained consciousness last week at Spring Valley Medical Center in Las Vegas.  The hospital yesterday switched his condition from critical to fair.

Bergendorff said the ricin discovered in a Las Vegas hotel room last month was his and was the likely source of his illness, he told his brother Erich Bergendorff by phone Sunday.

“He just confirmed that it was not intended for anybody,” Erich Bergendorff told AP.  “It was something that would be used for his own purposes, for self-defense.”

Roger Bergendorff cooperated during questioning by investigators Friday, his brother said.  Authorities have declined to say if they would press charges in the case (Allison Hoffman, Associated Press/International Herald Tribune, March 18).

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