Cat hair helps to catch would be Barack Obama assassin, authorities say
Hair 'microscopically consistent' with animal owned by Julia Poff, according to court documents
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A tiny cat hair helped to identify the women behind a plot to kill Barack Obama, according to legal documents filed in a Texas court.
Julia Poff stands accused of posting explosives to the then president, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Maryland’s Social Security Administrator Carolyn Colvin last October.
While the packaged intended for Mr Obama was intercepted, Mr Abbott did open the one that was sent to him but it failed to explode.
Had it detonated, it could have caused “severe burns and death”, the indictment says. He only appeared to escaped because he did not open the package “as intended.”
Poff allegedly said she didn't like Obama and she was upset with Governor Abbott because "she had not received support from her ex-husband," the indictment adds. She had applied for and not received social security benefits in Maryland.
FBI investigators were able to track her down using an obliterated shipping label on the package sent to Mr Abbott, according to the documents, which were filed in a Houston court earlier this week.
A cigarette packet bought near her home in the small city of Sealy, around 50 miles west of Houston, also helped them to zero in on her.
But it was “cat hair was found under the address label,” of the package posted to Mr Obama which was “microscopically consistent with the hair of one of Poff’s cats”, that helped them make the breakthrough.
When investigators searched her house they found fireworks in her garage, the indictment states.
She was charged earlier this month on six counts for allegedly mailing the bombs in October 2016, including mailing injurious articles and transporting explosives with the intent to kill and injure and is currently being held at a Houston detention centre.
She has also been charged with food stamp fraud and False Declaration in Bankruptcy.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments