Case 2:17-mj-00106-jmc Document 9 Filed 11/30/17 Page 1 of 1
AO 91 (Rev

Criminal Complaint

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District of Vermont

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United States of America
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Case No.

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Betty Miller
Defendant(s)

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CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

I, the complainant in this case, state that the following is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
On or about the date(s)

of No,renhf J1. &o t J

District of

Vermont

the defendant(s)

of

Chittenden

violated:

ffinse

Code Section
18:175b(c), 42 CFR:73.3

,

in the county

;,

Description

Knowing possession of an unregistered biological agent where such agent is
a select agent.

This criminal complaint is based on these facts:
See Attached Affidavit

d

Continued on the attached sheet.

S/A Mark Emmons, FBI
Printed name and title

Swom to before me and signed in my presence.

Date:

1113012017

C! o df*

City and state:

in the

Burlington, Vermont
Printed name and title

 Case 2:17-mj-00106-jmc Document 9-1 Filed 11/30/17 Page 1 of 6
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LINITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE
DISTRICT OF VERMONT

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Docket No.

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BETTY MILLER,
Defendant.

AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF CRIMINAL
COMPLAINT
I, Mark C. Emmons, being duly sworn, hereby depose and state as follows:

Introduction

l.

I have

been employed as a Special Agent of the

assigned to the Albany Field Office

- Burlington,

FBI since 1997, and am currently

Vermont Resident Agency. While employed by

the FBI, I have investigated federal criminal violations related to Weapons of Mass Destruction

(WMD). I have gained experience through training and while working as an Assistant WMD
Coordinator, the FBI's program to address incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological,
or nuclear material. I have received training in the area of WMD, including the FBI's HAZMAT
Operations and Introduction to WMD Science and WMD Operations courses. Moreover, I am a
federal law enforcement officer who is engaged in enforcing the criminal laws, including offenses

involving biological agents under Title 18, Chapter 10, and

I am authoizedby

the Attorney

General to request a search warrant.

2.

Since this affidavit is being submitted for the limited purpose of supporting a

criminal complaint and arest warrant,

I have not included

each and every fact known to me

 Case 2:17-mj-00106-jmc Document 9-1 Filed 11/30/17 Page 2 of 6

concerning this investigation.

I

have set forth only the facts

I believe

necessary to establish

probable cause to believe that Betty Miller has committed violations of Title 18, United States
Code, Section 175b(c) and 42 CFR 73.3, knowing possession of an unregistered select agent.

3.

I have reviewed 42 CFR 73.3, which defines a select agent as one of a series of

listed biological agents and toxins that have

oothe

potential to pose a severe threat to public health

and safety." Ricin is included on the list of select agents.

4.

Based on my training and experience and the facts as set forth in this affidavit,

there is probable cause to believe that Betty Miller has committed violations of 18 U.S.C.
175b(c) (knowing possession of an unregistered select agent).

5.

The information included below comes from my direct involvement in the

investigation and my communications with other law enforcement officers including officers

with the Shelbume Police Department and the Vermont State Police,

as

well as my training and

experience.

PROBABLE CAUSE

6.

During the afternoon on November 28,2017,I received notification of an incident

potentially involving a potentially hazardous select agent in Shelburne, Vermont from FBI

Albany's WMD Coordinator, SA Thomas Stewart. I subsequently directed SA Caroline
Marshall to contact Shelburne Police Department (SPD) and obtain additional information. SA
Marshall telephoned (SPD) dispatch and was connected with Officer Cole Charbonneau, who
was on scene at the Wake Robin senior living facility in Shelbume, Vermont.

7.

According to SA Marshall, Officer Charbonneau advised that Betty Miller, a

 Case 2:17-mj-00106-jmc Document 9-1 Filed 11/30/17 Page 3 of 6

resident at the Wake Robin retirement facility in Shelbume, Vermont, made statements to health
care providers about manufacturing Ricin, a highly toxic powder produced from the seeds of the
castor

oil plant, and placing it on food and/or in beverages ingested by other Wake Robin

residents. Officer Charbonneau further advised Vermont State's Hazardous Materials Response
Team and the Vermont National Guard's 15th Civil Support Team were on scene and preparing

to enter Miller's residence.

8.

I responded to Wake Robin. Upon arriving at the Wake Robin facility, I consulted

with personnel from the Vermont State Police, the VermontHazardous Materials Response Team

(VHMRT), the Vermont National Guard 15th Civil Support Team (CST), Shelburne Police
Departrment (SPD), Shelbume Fire Department (SFD), and Wake Robin

staff. During and after

the incident, I, or other members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force with whom I have spoken,
were advised of the following information:

a. On November 27, 2017, Ms. Miller indicated to health care providers that she had
attempted to poison other Wake Robin residents using homemade ricin, which she had placed in

multiple servings of other residents' food and beverages over

b.

a

period of weeks.

Ms. Miller drove to UVM Medical Center for evaluation and observation in her

personal vehicle. On November 27, 2017, based on concems for public health, Vermont State
Police transferred Ms. Miller's vehicle to the VSP impound lot in Williston, Vermont.

c.
time.

No other residents had reported symptoms consistent with ricin poisoning at the

 Case 2:17-mj-00106-jmc Document 9-1 Filed 11/30/17 Page 4 of 6

9.

In the interest of ensuring public safety, VHMRT, CST, SPD, and SFD personnel

formulated an entry plan calling for one VHMRT member and one CST member to enter the
residence together, locate any suspicious powders, and test for the presence of

Ricin. Based on

the hazard presented by the potential presence of Ricin, entry personnel wore protective equipment

providing the highest level of respiratory, skin, eye, and mucous membrane protection (Level

A).

The team utilized HHA (Hand Held Analysis) and the RAMP system to test any suspicious

powders found. I spoke with team members and obtained the following information:

a.

After making entry, the team located

a

wicker basket containing pill

bottles in the kitchen cupboards. The pill bottles were labeled "Apple seed", "Cherry Seed",
'oYew seed",

"Ricin", "Castor beans", and another type of

seed. The bottle labeled

ooRicin"

was

approximately %fi:/,l of a yellowish/white powder. This powder was tested in the HAA and

RAMP, with

a

positive result on the HAA for Ricin. The RAMP system malfunctioned and did

not provide a usable result. Based on the above results, the Ricin pill bottle was placed in an

additional container, then placed in an evidence bag. The VDH Sample form and VHMRT
Screening form were completed and placed with the evidence cooler with the Ricin pill bottle.

This was then transported to the Vermont Department of Health lab for additional testing.

b.

Entry teams also observed a sheet of instructions for making Ricin that

appeared to have been printed from the internet, and a laptop computer in the residence.

10.

On the evening

of

1112812017,

I interviewed Betty Miller at UVM Hospital. I was

accompanied by SA Caroline Marshall and two employees of the Vermont Department of Health

Division of Emergency Preparedness, Response & Injury Prevention, Chris Bell and Veronica
Fialkowski. Ms. Miller was advised of her rights and agreed to an interview regarding the above

 Case 2:17-mj-00106-jmc Document 9-1 Filed 11/30/17 Page 5 of 6

matter. During the interview, Miller told investigators she had become interested in plant based
poisons during the past summer. Based on research conducted on the internet using her laptop
computer and cell phone, Miller harvested 30-40 castor beans from plants growing on the property

of Wake Robin. Following instructions obtained online, Miller manufactured a total of between 2
and 3 tablespoons of Ricin on two separate occasions in the kitchen of her residence.
she decided to test the effectiveness of the Ricin on other residents
three occasions,

Miller stated

of Wake Robin. On at least

Miller exposed other residents to the Ricin she had produced by placing it on food

and/or in beverages she expdcted them to ingest. Miller estimated that approximately half a
tablespoon of Ricin powder and some castor beans were in a basket stored in a kitchen cabinet
above her stove. Ms. Miller indicated her goal was to injure herself, but she wanted to test the
effectiveness of the Ricin on others.

'

11

.

At 12:57 am on November 29, 2017 , I received

Vermont Department

of Health Division of

an email from the Director of the

Emergency Preparedness, Response

& Injury

Prevention indicating that a test performed by the Vermont Department of Health Laboratory
confirmed the initial positive test for Ricin.

12.lhaveconfirmed with the Department of Health and Human Services that Ms. Miller
does not hold a registration allowing her to possess Ricin.

 Case 2:17-mj-00106-jmc Document 9-1 Filed 11/30/17 Page 6 of 6

CONCLUSION

I submit that this affrdavit
arrest warrant charging Betty

supports probable cause to support a criminal complaint and

Miller with violations of

18 U.S.C.

l75b(c) and 42 CFR 73.3.

Respectfu lly submitted,

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Subscribed and swom to before me
on November 30, 2017:

Hon. John M.
United States