TOPEKA – Although preliminary tests showed the white powder received in letters received by Kansas state legislators and officials were negative for “common biological agents of concern,” the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are continuing their investigation into case and the substance, the KBI noted in a news release issued Sunday.
Among those receiving a letter was 112th District Rep. Tory Arnberger, R-Great Bend. Members of the Salina Fire Department, the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office and the bomb squad from Fort Riley were her Great Bend home Friday night in response investigation.
“I’m very thankful for (Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir) calling to warn me about what could be in my mailbox,” she said. “As legislators, we get mail from all over the nation, but this one looked like a constituent letter due to the Great Bend return address.”
What was interesting was the return address was to a local church in Great Bend. “After speaking with other legislators who also received the same letter, theirs also were return addresses to local churches, but the names above it are of transgender individuals who have passed away,” she said.
“I’ve been asked a lot lately on how I’m doing or feeling, and the answer is ‘I’m okay,’” she said. “I can’t thank the KBI, FBI, Salina Fire Department and the Fort Riley Bomb Squad enough for making sure we were all safe. This has been a real eye opener for many of us and I will be thinking twice now before I open my mail.”
As of Sunday evening, approximately 100 letters containing suspicious white powder have been received across the state of Kansas, the KBI reported.
A small sample of the letters containing powder was sent to a laboratory that specializes in testing biological samples. Preliminary tests have returned from this lab indicating the substance is presumptively negative for common biological agents of concern.
Further and more complete testing will be conducted on this sample, as well as on additional letters that have been collected, in an effort to determine the components of the substance.
The KBI and FBI are working with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and other partners on the case.
Nothing further will be released at this time.
