Bruce E. Ivins was a United States government research microbiologist who reportedly committed suicide on Tuesday, July 29, 2008, shortly before he was about to be charged with crimes in relation to the 2001 anthrax attacks.The New York Times: Anthrax Scientist Reported to Kill Self (August 1, 2008) The FBI believes there is enough evidence against Ivins to close the investigation into the anthrax attacks.ABC News: Anthrax Investigation: Case Closed? (August 4, 2008)

Documents unsealed on September 24, 2008, revealed that Ivins sent himself an email where he claims to have found who was responsible for the mailings. The email didn't mention any names.FOXNews: Anthrax Suspect Claimed He Knew... (September 25)

Ivins attorney Paul Kemp claims that the Justice Department's case is based nearly entirely on speculation and circumstantial evidence. He maintains that his client was innocent.FOXNews: Anthrax Suspect Claimed He Knew... (September 25)

The Los Angeles Times reported that Ivins would have collected patent royalties on a new anthrax vaccination. According to an anonymous executive who is familiar with the case, Ivin was a co-inventer of a new vaccination and he would have financially benefited from the public's panic related to the fear of anthrax. A company called VaxGen had a federal contract worth $877.5 million to produce the batches of the new vaccine. According to the source, VaxGen had an agreement where they would share the proceeds of the sale of the product with the inventors.Los Angeles Times : Anthrax Scientist Stood to Benefit from Panic (August 2, 2008)

In the weeks following the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, letters containing anthrax powder were sent to lawmakers on Capitol Hill and members of the media in New York and Florida. Two of the letters were addressed to U.S. senators. The powder sickened 17 people who came in contact with the letters and five people were killed.The New York Times: Anthrax Scientist Reported to Kill Self (August 1, 2008)

On August 6, 2008, the U.S. Department of Justice released hundreds of pages of court documents detailing the investigation into Dr. Bruce Ivins and the 2001 anthrax attacks. Investigators said Ivins had access to genetically unique anthrax spores like the ones used in the attacks. They also said Ivins deliberately gave the FBI false samples of anthrax from his lab, in an attempt to throw them off course. Based on the evidence, officials said they felt "confident" Ivins was the lone person responsible for the deadly attacks.CNN.com: Court documents implicate researcher in 2001 anthrax attack (August 6, 2008) AFP: US 'Confident' Dead Scientist Behind Anthrax Attacks (August 6, 2008) WashingtonPost.com: Anthrax Investigators Unveil Some Evidence... (August 6, 2008)

• The New York Times: Anthrax Scientist Reported to Kill Self (August 1, 2008)

• Times Online: Chief Suspect in US Anthrax Attacks Found Dead (August 1, 2008)

• ABC News: Scientist About to Be Indicted in 2001 Anthrax Attacks Kills... (August 1, 2008)

• Los Angeles Times: Apparent Suicide in Anthrax Case (August 1, 2008)

• AFP: Anthrax Suspect Kills Self: Report (August 1, 2008)

• FOXNews.com: FBI Focusing on 'About Four' Suspects in 2001 Anthrax... (March 28, 2008)

• The Today Show: Report: Anthrax Suspect Kills Self (August 1, 2008)

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