Shannon Richardson appeared in shows like “The Vampire Diaries” before mailing letters laced with ricin to Barack Obama and Michael Bloomberg in 2013 — then framed her husband for it.
Leslie Morris / Getty ImagesShannon Richardson post ricin toxin to President Barack Obama , New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg , and the head of a non-profit-making organization for gun control .
When Shannon Richardsoncontactedthe FBI in May 2013 , they had no contiguous cause to doubt her . She claim to have found ricin toxin , a lethal chemical compound deduct from castor noggin , in the New Boston , Texas , family she partake in with her hubby . She also take to have ascertain the address of President Barack Obama jot down down nearby .
Richardson , who had small roles in shows likeThe Walking DeadandThe Vampire Diaries , evidence the FBI that her husband had mail the poison to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg , as well . Her decipherable , detailed descriptions of small , brown - ish bean plant residual told authorities all they needed to know — or so they recall .
Leslie Morris/Getty ImagesShannon Richardson mailed ricin to President Barack Obama, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, and the head of a nonprofit organization for gun control.
When they look into her title on May 30 , the FBIdiscoveredthat Richardson ’s husband was despairing to divorce her . Furthermore , every internet search at their household about producing ricin had been made when he was at work . Now the meridian suspect , Shannon Richardson admitted to mailing the letter herself .
The Crimes Of Shannon Richardson
turn out on Aug. 31 , 1977 , in Bowie County , Texas , Shannon Rogers had a turbulent childhood that potentially impacted her relationships into adulthood . vacate by her female parent when she was 2 age old , she was the old of three children and was raised in Doraville , Georgia , by her General Motors - apply father .
While Shannon Richardson would get marry doubly only to be divorced both times before ever meeting her third married man , Hollywood produce genuinely concerned . Richardson ’s career unfeignedly began to take off in the late 2000s with scrap parts in show likeThe Vampire DiariesandThe Walking Deadand films likeThe Blind Side .
Twice - disjoint with five children , the single mother and aspiring actress line up love life in Nathaniel Richardson . They get married in 2011 and settled in New Boston , Texas , where Richardson became pregnant with her 6th child in former 2012 . Her husband , a U.S. Army old hand , would laterrecallher being despairing to be famous .
Leslie Morris/Getty ImagesHer husband Nathaniel Richardson (right) would be her third to file for divorce.
Leslie Morris / Getty ImagesHer husband Nathaniel Richardson ( right ) would be her third to file for divorcement .
Despite the impending giving birth of their first child together , Nathaniel Richardson was dire to register for divorcement . Embittered , Shannon Richardson responded by starting to order supply from the cyberspace to frame up him — and ideally garner nationwide sympathies and fame .
With lye , syringes , and caster beans , she made ricin . The substance is so deadly that it can obliterate its field of study via intake , injectant , or mere inhalation . Shesentthree letter to Obama , Bloomberg , and Mark Glaze of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns nonprofit on May 20 while her spouse was at work as a military mechanic .
Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty ImagesSecret Service officials at the White House perimeter following the arrival of Richardon’s letter to President Obama.
“ What ’s in this letter is nothing liken to what i ve get in store for you mr president , ” the alphabetic character to Obama read . “ You will have to defeat me and my category before you get my guns . Anyone wants to issue forth to my house will get shot in the face . ”
Shannon Richardson Goes To Prison
Shannon Richardson would afterwards claim that she never intended for her letter to reach their targets , and that the high - profile position of her victims would preclude them from ever passing through security . luckily , she was right — when all three envelope were intercepted before strive Obama , Bloomberg , or Glaze .
In the lag , Richardson would practically incriminate herself and help detective solve the subject quicker . agree to an FBI affidavit , she contacted the sureness on May 30 , 2013 , and described finding pebble - like bean of brown color in her house — and a musical note on her husband ’s desk accept savoir-faire .
When the FBI search the duet ’s laptop computer , however , they confirmed that relevant searches and documents were made on dates and time when her hubby was n’t house . Richardson finallyconfessedafter failing a polygraph , but exact the thought was her married man ’s . She claimed he “ made her ” print the label and mail the letters .
Jewel Samad / AFP / Getty ImagesSecret Service official at the White House perimeter trace the arrival of Richardon ’s letter of the alphabet to President Obama .
Arrested on June 7 , 2013 , the meaning actress admitted to the disturbing detail to get hold of a supplication correspondence . She revealed that she hadcreatedan email address , PayPal payment account , and opened a P.O. Box in her husband ’s name — and expect for him to go to work on May 20 for prepare her chain armor .
According to his attorney John Delk , Nathaniel Richardson was rather pleased with the outcome as he had narrowly avoided being framed for three failed assassinations . He wasted no metre in separate his life from the cleaning lady who lead astray him , and divorced Shannon Richardson within weeks .
While a condemnable complaintrevealedthe FBI had used undisclosed mass surveillance in cooperation with the U.S. Postal Service to name Richardson as the perpetrator , she hold to a plea deal by Nov. 22 . Charged with manufacturing and possessing a biological weapon , she wassentencedto 18 years on July 16 , 2014 .
“ I never intended for anybody to be hurt , ” said Richardson . “ I ’m not a risky person , I do n’t have it in my to injure anyone . ”
After check about Shannon Richardson , read aboutBarack Obama ’s female parent Stanley Ann Dunham . Then , learnhow British millennial Samantha Lewthwaite became a Muslim terrorist .
