Vermont Woman Tested Ricin On Neighbors At Retirement Home: Feds

SHELBURNE, VT — An elderly Vermont woman who authorities say had an interest in plant-based poisons made ricin in her kitchen and tested its potency by placing it in the food and drinks of residents at her retirement community, federal officials alleged.

Betty Miller, 70, was arrested and charged by the FBI on Nov. 30 with unregistered possession of a select agent, ricin.

Federal officials say the case arises from an incident that occurred at the Wake Robin life care community when authorities were called to the community on Nov. 28 after learning of a potentially hazardous substance on the premises. A search turned up a bottle labeled "ricin" at Miller's residence and the substance was confirmed by the Vermont Forensic Lab to be ricin, authorities say.

Members of the FBI and the Vermont Department of Health interviewed Miller later in the evening. According to authorities, Miller said during an interview that she had an interest in plant-based poisons and had researched how to make them.

Authorities say Miller said she made the ricin in her kitchen and place it in the food and drinks of other residents of the retirement community to test its potency.

On Nov. 30, specially trained FBI agents conducted a search of the retirement community and of Miller's vehicle and found no poisons or other hazardous materials outside of the confines of Miller's residence, authorities said.

"Inside Miller’s residence, the FBI located ricin, along with components from a number of plants, including apple, yew, cherry, castor and foxglove, which all can be used to produce toxins," the Department of Justice said in a press release.

Ricin is a poison found naturally in castor beans and no antidote exists for the poison.

Any threat posed by the substances has been neutralized and all residents are safe, authorities say.

"We have received assurances from the VT Department of Health and the FBI that no one’s health is at risk," Wake Robin President and CEO Patrick McKee said in a statement to USA Today. "The resident of the apartment in question is now involved with the criminal justice system and will not be returning to Wake Robin."

Miller had her first court appearance on Friday and will remain in custody till her next hearing on Dec. 6.

Photo: A sign marks the entrance to the Wake Robin retirement community, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, in Shelburne, Vt. Vermont State Police and FBI said they were investigating the source of the deadly toxin ricin that was found at the retirement community. A Wake Robin spokeswoman said residents were safe. (Photo by Lisa Rathke/Associated Press)