Front Page Detectives
BREAKING NEWS

Oregon Man Admitted He Sent Angry Christmas Cards Laced with White Powder to Ex-Coworkers, Including Pregnant Woman

mega cuffs
Source: MEGA

Dec. 24 2023, Published 12:07 p.m. ET

Link to FacebookShare to XShare to Email

An Oregon man admitted to sending threatening Christmas and Valentine’s day cards containing a dangerous, white powder to former coworkers.

Kelly Michael Burns, 71, pleaded guilty in federal court to eight counts of mailing threatening communications.

Article continues below advertisement

In late December 2018, Burns mailed four Christmas cards to former coworkers, according to federal prosecutors. The powder was identified as a pesticide.

The cards were sent to the victims’ workplace and included messages of, “Merry Anthrax (obscenity)! Eat (obscenity) and die more to come.” Three people were exposed to the powder and had to go through an extensive decontamination process, prosecutors say. 

MORE ON:
Arrest
Article continues below advertisement

That process included high-dose antibiotics. 

One of the victims was 10-weeks pregnant when exposed, according to prosecutors. The workplace was evacuated and had to be decontaminated. 

Then the day before Valentine’s Day 2020, Burns again mailed four cards to the same people, according to prosecutors. The letters contained violent statements and threats towards the victims’ families.

A handwriting analysis matched the cards to Burns’ handwriting on a job application and tax documents. 

FBI agents searched Burns’ home and found handwritten notes where he threatened to kill a former coworker, sabotage his former workplace and conduct a drive-by shooting, according to prosecutors. 

Advertisement

Become a Front Page Detective

Sign up to receive breaking
Front Page Detectives
news and exclusive investigations.

More Stories

Opt-out of personalized ads

© Copyright 2024 FRONT PAGE DETECTIVES™️. A DIVISION OF EMPIRE MEDIA GROUP INC. FRONT PAGE DETECTIVES is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Offers may be subject to change without notice.