Death Summary: Bruce's death is believed to be a suicide as a result of overdosing on Tylenol with codeine.

His death occurred as authorities prepared to bring criminal charges against him for an alleged role in post-9/11 2001 Anthrax attacks.

Who was Bruce E. Ivins: Bruce Edwards Ivins graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a PHD in microbiology and is known for his extensive research with Anthrax. He aided the FBI after the Anthrax attacks of 2001 in analyzing the substance. Eventually, authorities came to suspect his as a culprit of the attacks.

According to ABC News, "FBI officials had long targeted Fort Detrick [Ivins's place of work] as the possible source of the anthrax attacks because of the facility's intensive research on anthrax as a biological weapon."

Update: According to a Washington Post article, "A hair sample taken from a Princeton, N.J., mailbox linked to the 2001 anthrax attacks does not match that of Army scientist Bruce E. Ivins, leading to speculation about whether the federal government identified the right suspect."

Categories: Criminals, Scientists.