Thank's to Dr. Stevo and others who injected a note of sanity into this discussion. Was stunned when I first heard that they weren't doing an autopsy. If any case deserved one, it was Ivins'. As I pointed out much earlier and as noted by others here, this should have been a coroner's case. Family consent wouldn't have been needed although it's certainly kinder to speak with family and explain the reasons it's needed -- and this usually leads to consent. If the family was sophisticated in these matters and not overwhelmed, they should have demanded an autopsy. The FBI, if they were above board, should have insisted on it, if only as a CYA. Unfortunately, only a call to the coroner may have been required (don't know Maryland procedures). If the physician conveys that there are no questions and cause of death is clear, the coroner may release the body without having ever seen it. That may have happened here.

We basically still know next to nothing about how Ivins died, what attempts were made to save him, and what tests were run in the hospital. It seems he may have ingested more Tylenol and codeine than was good for him but did the blood levels reflect a normally lethal dose? In response to an earlier question, codeine would have been a problem primarily in terms of respiratory suppression but can be reversed with Naloxone while the patient is supported with ventilation -- unless they caught him too late and there was anoxic brain damage.

Ivins had apparently been drinking excessively at some points and had been treated with "various psychotropic medications including antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anti-anxiety, for his mental health issues from 2000 through 2006." Was he drinking at the time? What drugs did he still have around that he might have taken as well? These drugs are metabolized by the liver and anxiolytics can contribute to respiratory suppression. Did he have impaired liver function from alcohol abuse? Did he have other medical problems that might have contributed to psychiatric symptoms when he was alive? He apparently thought he had aplastic anemia. Although there is no documentation of this, he was getting anthrax vaccine yearly and it's not necessarily a benign substance.

Have waded through the mental health stuff and will post more later. Suffice it to say it's another can of worms. Suggest resisting armchair diagnosis -- there's enough confusion out there already.

Suggest resisting armchair diagnosis -- there's enough confusion out there already

heh. What's really needed here is David Caruso!

If they can't place him in NJ, that doesn't mean he's either (1) Not the anthrax killer, or (2) did not act alone. It means they lack the evidence to place him at a specific spot. That doesn't mean he wasn't there.

The FBI seems to have rather strong evidence that he's the man, conraey to Gelnn Greenwald's claims the past several days that they had already leaked their most compelling and incriminating evidence (the stuff about the sorority). Greenwald was wrong that the best evidence against Ivins was leaked before today, though he didn't mention he was wrong about that. But, hey, he's about so many things, who can begin to keep count. Anyway, I can see that it's disappointing to many commenters here (many are conspiratorial to a disturbing degree) that the FBI has apparently got their man. They worked hard on the case and deserve some credit for that. Or, I guess you guys can keep smearing Duley if you like. *spit*

Previous post's typoe corrections: The FBI has rather strong evidence that Ivin's the man, contrary to Glenn Greenwald's claims the past several days that they had already leaked their most compelling and incriminating evidence (the stuff about the sorority).

Yes, Greenwald called that one wrong, claiming they're leaked the best evidence against Ivins. Very strong evidence was released about Ivins today and it appears they zeroes in on the right man. I appreciate the hard work of the investigators and this was a difficult case to crack (Greenwald will never give them props about this). They had to develop new technologies to crack this case.

Wow, we sure are selective. Heath Ledger dies from something he took and its called an accidental overdose - case closed.

Ivins dies and its suicide -- guess he must have been guilty -- case closed.

Move along sheeple, nothing to see here.

hey, don't keep it to yourself -- give us the good stuff. What is this evidence that is conclusive? Chapter and verse etc.

This lady goes by the name whitewraithe and her e-mail begins LadyHope. Her article is about connecting the dots in this search for truth. She totally agrees with you, and is formidably intelligent.

Easiest way to get there is to Google: www.wordpress.com and search their site for forensic psychologist.

Her article is dated 08/05/2008

She has locked onto this and her dander is up.

My comment there was the first so maybe you folks here have not found it yet. Her input here would be very valuable.

My name in the first comment there is gmason1776

Isn't it amazing how liberals fail to recognize the fundamental incoherence of their arguments! -- nabalzbbfr

And this has what to do with anything concerning this Keystone Kopps-level idiocy coming from the FBI?

What's the matter? Can't follow the technical elements of the thread? Lonely? Mommy and Daddy leave you alone while they went on vacation?

Jeshua Ben Joseph, will you please grow up already?

particularly in the wake of 9/11, he was angry towards those who embraced the ACLU position that civil liberties must be safeguarded, and Sens. Daschle and Leahy, at the time, were widely perceived to have been holding up passage of the Patriot Act, and he also was furious at those who wanted to "coddle" or "excuse" terrorists;

We need an independent investigation. This whole case is so ludicrous, the FBI just wants to pin this on dead guy because they don't have to have a trial. If they suspected Mr. Ivins since 2001 why did he keep his clearance for so long?

We need an independent investigation. This is too much like Bush’s kangaroo tribunals - trials made-up to hide evidence or the serious lack thereof. Are Dems going anything about this?