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The Frederick community is reacting skeptically to the FBI's claim that Bruce E. Ivins, a Fort Detrick scientist and leading anthrax researcher, was solely responsible for the 2001 anthrax mailings that killed five people, according to the results of The Frederick News-Post's online poll posted last week. Thirty-four percent of 128 voters responding said Bruce Ivins was not responsible for the anthrax attacks. Twenty-seven percent of them said "more investigation is needed," 26 percent said he is responsible, and 13 percent voted they were "not sure." On the streets of Frederick on Tuesday, more than a week after Ivins apparently committed suicide, questions concerning the case, and even reactions to the community's reaction against the FBI's investigation were expressed by residents. George Broski, a Frederick resident, said: "No, because I don't know all the evidence supposedly they have. They already went after one person, didn't have the right evidence, and ended up paying dearly for that one. It's evident that somebody in that office did it because it traced back to the lab -- that particular strain of anthrax." Vickie Marashall, a Frederick -area resident said: "It's suspicious he took his own life. But some people just don't handle pressure well. You can't say for sure that implies guilt. I work at Fort Detrick. When you're hired, you're told flat out you can't develop anything for your own financial gain. I think that's weak to suggest he did it for his own gain. I just haven't heard enough about him to convince me." Kevin Hays, a Frederick resident, said: "Actually, I think he's more suspect than the last person they had. I personally knew the last person. I was very surprised when the charges were placed on him ... With the evidence I've heard personally, I think it has pretty much put the blame on him, especially with the suicide." Jackie Williams, a Frederick resident, said: "I really don't know what to say. I don't know what the FBI knew that we don't know -- what evidence they were basing their report on. I feel sorry for the family. I read a lot about it. My gut reaction? Maybe the FBI was a little zealous." Daryl Hann, a Thurmont resident, said: "Just because of the overwhelming evidence against him -- so yeah, I think he's guilty, that he did it ... Just that he had access to everything that was involved in it. He had all the access to the anthrax. Everything just points right to him." James Morris, a Brunswick resident, said: "I don't even know much about the man myself, so I don't know whether he could have done it or not." Dee Grimmett, a Frederick resident, said: "No."
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