Aftermath: Hunt for the Anthrax Killer
Episode 3: Anthrax This!
Release Date: April 9, 2025

Hosted by Jeremiah Kroll
Produced by Wolf Entertainment, USG Audio, Dig Studios, and CBC

Introduction: A City on Edge

The podcast episode opens in September 2001, just days before the catastrophic events of 9/11. Dr. Marcy Layton, the Assistant Commissioner for the New York City Health Department, and her team are orchestrating a large-scale bioterrorism drill aimed at preparing for potential biological attacks, with anthrax as a primary threat. The intense preparations include setting up emergency hospital beds and simulating mass antibiotic distribution using M&Ms to represent medications like ciprofloxacin and doxycycline.

Notable Quote:
Dr. Marcy Layton (00:34): “All of this was to make sure that they were ready in case of a large scale biohazard attack, like the release of a lethal toxin gas or maybe powder that could kill thousands of people. And one kind of toxin was front and center in her mind. Anthrax.”

The Convergence of 9/11 and Anthrax Attacks

On September 11, 2001, the world’s attention shifts dramatically as two airplanes crash into the World Trade Center towers, followed by an attack on the Pentagon. The emergency preparations by Dr. Layton’s team pivot instantly from a simulated exercise to a real-life crisis. The sudden surge in emergencies transforms the planned anthrax drill into a backdrop against which a new terror unfolds: the anthrax attacks.

Notable Quote:
Special Agent Scott Decker (05:12): “That two airplanes struck the two large towers of the World Trade Center.”

Initial Anthrax Cases in Florida

One month after 9/11, the FBI faces a baffling new challenge: three individuals at a news office in Florida have been infected with anthrax. Initial theories suggest a possible link to Al Qaeda, akin to the 9/11 attacks, but the evidence remains inconclusive. Special Agent Scott Decker is tasked with uncovering the truth behind these infections, navigating through a maze of scientific data and dead-end leads.

Notable Quote:
Special Agent Scott Decker (04:21): “Some people will say, well then it could have been, it could have been a lot of things, but we don't have any proof that it was.”

Anthrax Strikes in New York City's Media Outlets

As panic simmers in Florida, anthrax rears its head in New York City, targeting prominent media organizations like NBC, ABC, CBS, and the New York Post. Johanna Houden, a reporter at the New York Post, becomes a central figure when she develops a mysterious lesion on her finger, later confirmed to be cutaneous anthrax. The discovery of a contaminated letter at 30 Rockefeller Center addressed to Tom Brokaw links the attacks directly to the US mail system.

Notable Quote:
Dr. Marcy Layton (08:37): “The Hazmat team seals off the area. There's no return address on the envelope, but there’s a postmark. September 18th from Trenton, New Jersey.”

The Story of Johanna Houden

Johanna Houden's personal ordeal exemplifies the human cost of the anthrax attacks. Initially dismissing her symptoms as a spider bite, Johanna’s condition deteriorates, leading her to seek emergency medical care. Her subsequent infection becomes a high-profile case, especially after her editor orchestrates a New York Post front-page article that inadvertently turns her into a symbol of the bioterrorism crisis.

Notable Quote:
Scott Payne (28:14): “They wanted me to write a piece... Tonight, we find ourselves in the unusual and unhappy position of reporting on one of our beloved colleagues who has contracted a cutaneous anthrax infection.”

FBI Investigation and Breakthrough

Special Agent Decker and his team finally secure a critical piece of evidence: an envelope containing zillions of anthrax spores with unmistakable ties to the Ames strain, the same strain found in the Florida cases. This breakthrough confirms the use of the US mail system as the delivery mechanism for the anthrax attacks, solidifying the case as an act of terrorism.

Notable Quote:
Special Agent Scott Decker (20:17): “Finding it proved that it was an act of terrorism.”

Laboratory Contamination Setback

Just as the investigation gains momentum, a significant setback occurs when the FBI laboratory in Manhattan becomes contaminated with anthrax from the Brokaw letter. This mishap forces the lab to shut down, destroying crucial evidence and delaying progress in tracing the source of the attacks. The contamination not only hampers the investigation but also highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in handling such dangerous pathogens.

Notable Quote:
Special Agent Scott Decker (24:47): “We had hardly any of the powder left, and I think somebody lost their job over that.”

Ongoing Investigation and Continued Threat

Despite the contamination, the FBI persists in its efforts. Genetic analysis reveals that both the New York and Florida anthrax strains are identical, suggesting a common source or perpetrator. However, advancements in DNA analysis are insufficient at the time to pinpoint the exact individual responsible. Meanwhile, fear escalates as additional anthrax letters are discovered, including one in Washington D.C., indicating that the attacks may be far from over.

Notable Quote:
Special Agent Scott Decker (24:07): “We said, yeah, tracking the DNA, that just might do it for us.”

Public Fear and Media Portrayal

The relentless spread of anthrax stokes public fear and anxiety. Media coverage becomes a double-edged sword, providing necessary information while also amplifying panic. Johanna’s experience is particularly poignant, as her unintended portrayal in the New York Post serves as a stark visualization of the threat, yet it also leads to personal and professional repercussions that weigh heavily on her.

Notable Quote:
Scott Payne (29:01): “I was terrified because I'd actually named my boyfriend at the time who later became my husband.”

Conclusion: An Unresolved Crisis

By mid-October 2001, the anthrax attacks have claimed multiple lives and infected numerous individuals, leaving the FBI scrambling for answers. The identification of the Ames strain links the attacks across different locations, but the inability to secure fingerprints or trace the source of the letters leaves the investigation at a standstill. As another contaminated letter surfaces in Washington D.C., the sense of urgency and fear intensifies, underscoring the unresolved nature of the crisis.

Notable Quote:
Dr. Marcy Layton (33:36): “If the terrorists incorporate intention is to spread fear and panic, then sending anthrax here to the very seat of government is certainly having that effect.”

Key Takeaways:

• Preparation Meets Reality: Dr. Layton's preparedness for a biological attack becomes tragically prophetic as the anthrax attacks materialize amidst the chaos of 9/11.

• Mail as a Vector: The revelation that anthrax was delivered through the US mail system underscores vulnerabilities in national security infrastructure.

• Human Impact: Johanna Houden's story personalizes the broader terror, illustrating the profound personal toll of bioterrorism.

• Investigative Challenges: The FBI's struggle with contaminated evidence and limited forensic technology highlights the complexities of bioterrorism investigations.

• Persistent Fear: The ongoing discovery of anthrax letters fosters a climate of fear and uncertainty, affecting both individuals and institutions.

Notable Quotes Summarized:

• Dr. Marcy Layton (00:34): Preparedness for bioterrorism was a reality they had to face before and after 9/11.

• Special Agent Scott Decker (20:17): The discovery of anthrax spores in mail confirmed the act as terrorism.

• Scott Payne (29:01): Personal fears intertwined with professional vulnerabilities in the wake of the attacks.

This episode meticulously chronicles the intersection of the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent anthrax terror, shedding light on the multifaceted challenges faced by public health officials, law enforcement, and ordinary citizens during one of America’s most harrowing crises.