FBI wraps up ricin search in Riverton

RIVERTON — Dressed in hazmat suits, authorities searched a home and several storage units for any connection to vials of deadly ricin that were found in a Las Vegas motel room.

FBI agents executed a search warrant on Sunday in connection with the investigation, which centers around Roger Von Bergendorff, who is hospitalized in a coma in Nevada. He once lived with his cousin — Tom Tholen — in this quiet suburban neighborhood.

"The search warrant and affidavit have been sealed," FBI Special Agent in Charge Tim Fuhrman told reporters. "This investigation involves possible contamination of a highly toxic substance, ricin."

Homes surrounding Tholen's house near 13400 South and 3000 West were evacuated for most of the day while authorities searched the rambler-style residence. A couple of blocks of 13400 South were closed for the day while the searches were conducted.

"They found some chemicals they do have to remove. They didn't say what," said Tammy Ewell, who lives across the street from the Tholens. She left for several hours on Sunday at the request of law enforcement.

Many neighbors were more curious than afraid.

"Is there ricin in there?" a woman asked a Salt Lake County Sheriff's deputy manning the barricade.

"They don't know yet," he replied.

Police, firefighters, National Guardsmen, health officials and other emergency responders converged on Tholen's home to search for — and deal with — any hazardous substance. They set up large-scale tents for an intensive decontamination process. Those involved in searching the home itself were covered head to toe in protective gear and wore breathing apparatus.

At 9528 Bagley Park Road in West Jordan, a similar search was conducted on several storage units that were rented by Von Bergendorff, who has been hospitalized since Feb. 14 in Las Vegas with symptoms similar to ricin poisoning.

Von Bergendorff, 57, lived with Tholen until recently. He moved to Las Vegas and was living at an extended-stay motel when he fell ill. Tholen, 53, found the vials of ricin in the room and took them to the motel office. Six people had to be decontaminated when it was learned it was ricin. On Saturday, Tholen's wife and daughter were decontaminated when they arrived home from Las Vegas, authorities said. None tested positive for ricin exposure.

Tholen is back in Utah and has been cooperating with authorities.