[B]URLINGTON — A woman accused of trying to poison neighbors in her Shelburne retirement community remains in custody and will be arraigned in federal court Friday.
Betty Miller, 70, was indicted last week on a single felony charge of knowingly possessing “an unregistered select agent, namely ricin.” She allegedly refined the highly toxic substance from castor beans growing at Wake Robin, where she lived.
The charge carries a maximum of five years in jail.
Miller told health care workers and investigators that she was hoping to test the ricin’s effectiveness on other residents by placing it on food or in beverages she expected them to consume, according to court documents. She said she did so on at least three occasions, the documents show.
One resident, whom Miller allegedly admitted poisoning, tested positive for the presence of ricinine, “an indicator of potential ricin exposure,” which “may also indicate exposure to other castor derivatives such as castor oil,” according to a motion filed by the U.S. attorney.
The Health Department has said it’s not aware of any other people who may have become ill as a result of Miller’s alleged actions.
FBI investigators say Miller used instructions printed from the internet to make ricin. An agent said Miller “indicated her goal was to injure herself” but that she first wanted to test the ricin on others.
U.S. District Judge John Conroy has said Miller has a history of mental illness that includes hospitalizations.
Paul Volk, Miller’s attorney, did not argue against her continued detention during a hearing earlier this month. But he said he’s looking for a “suitable treatment option” for her and will seek her release if one is found.
