Ricin man named, home to be searched

Las Vegas hospitalized ricin man named, home to be searched in Utah, as investigation continues

The National Terror Alert Response Center confirmed an Associated Press report by Kathleen Hennessey Saturday, March 1, on developments of a ricin toxin case at a Las Vegas hotel.

Investigators released the name of a man hospitalized from the epicenter of the toxic find, Roger Von Bergendorff who is thought to have been exposed to the deadly ricin shortly before to the Friday reports.

Bergendorff lived at his cousin’s home for more than a year before moving to Las Vegas about a year ago, Tammy Ewell, who lives across the street from Thomas Tholen in Riverton, Utah, said.

Ewekk described Bergebdorff and his wife, Ellen, as close friends.

“He was very much a loner. I would say more or less socially regressive,” Ewell said. “He just barely got by in life. He’d just barely make it…Tom was [his] last resort.”

In a brief phone interview earlier Saturday, Thomas Tholen told The Associated Press that Von Bergerdorff was “holding his own” in the hospital.

Tholen, 53, wouldn’t say much more about Von Bergendorff or the discovery Thursday of several vials of ricin — deadly even in minuscule amounts — at the man’s extended-stay motel room on the Las Vegas Strip.

Officials secured Tholen’s home, where Von Bergendorff reportedly stayed.

They have not searched it yet because they are awaiting court approval for a warrant, FBI spokesman Juan Becerra said later Saturday.

The Associated Press report described Bergendorff as a man “down on his luck” and added a search of the Utah home was expected Saturday.

Authorities have not said how much ricin was involved but expressed confidence they have it all…

Police and health officials have tried to assure Las Vegas residents there is no public health threat… and no apparent link to terrorist activity…

Firearms, an "anarchist-type textbook" and castor beans, from which ricin is made, were found in the room where the poison was discovered.

The firearms and the book, which was tabbed at a spot containing information about ricin, were seized Tuesday after a manager at the Extended Stay America motel found the weapons and called police, police Capt. Joseph Lombardo said…

Tholen arrived in Las Vegas after Von Bergendorff summoned an ambulance and was hospitalized Feb. 14, in critical condition.

Tholen contacted motel management Feb. 22, to inform them about pets in the room, and Las Vegas Humane Society officials took custody of a dog and two cats.

The dog, which officials said was mortally ill after going at least a week without food or water, was euthanized.

Tholin and six more people endured decontamination procedures at the scene - those involved with taking the ricin vials to the motel office.

Three police officers also underwent decontamination, and all were cleared of ricin exposure at local hospitals.  

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