Forensic Files - Season 7, Episode 8 - Bio-Attack - Full Episode

Summary

In 1984, a deadly salmonella outbreak in The Dalles, Oregon, initially appeared to be a foodborne illness, affecting hundreds of residents. After extensive investigation, it was revealed that the Rajneeshee cult, led by Ma Anand Sheela, had deliberately contaminated local salad bars as part of a broader plan to influence the local election. The cult's goal was to incapacitate voters and ensure their candidates won. With biological evidence linking the cult to the attack, it was discovered that the Rajneeshees had even more dangerous biological weapons. The investigation combined epidemiology and criminal research to uncover this chilling act of bioterrorism.

Takeaways

• 😀 A biological attack occurred in The Dalles, Oregon, in 1984, leading to a major salmonella outbreak that affected hundreds of people.
• 😀 The cause of the outbreak initially went undetermined, with authorities exploring whether it was accidental or intentional.
• 😀 Dave and Sandy Lutgens, local residents, were among the first to fall ill, along with several of their employees and customers.
• 😀 The salmonella strain responsible for the outbreak was unusual, being rare and not resistant to antibiotics.
• 😀 Epidemiologists investigated the outbreak but struggled to find a common link between the sick individuals until they identified a contaminated salad from several local restaurants.
• 😀 Health officials initially attributed the outbreak to poor hygiene and cross-contamination, without concrete evidence of intentional harm.
• 😀 Suspicion fell on the Rajneeshees, a religious cult outside town, due to political tension and prior threats of violence from their leadership.
• 😀 The Rajneeshees operated a massive commune, and tensions with locals were rising as they aimed to influence local elections.
• 😀 Evidence later emerged that the Rajneeshees had used salmonella as a biological weapon to disrupt local elections by making voters sick and preventing them from going to the polls.
• 😀 The biological attack was part of a series of experiments and attacks orchestrated by the Rajneeshees, which included spraying salmonella in public places and contaminating food supplies.
• 😀 After the attack, forensic analysis confirmed the connection between the strain used in The Dalles and that found in the Rajneeshees' medical clinic, leading to charges against cult leaders.
• 😀 The Rajneeshee leaders, including Ma Anand Sheela, were convicted, but Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh's involvement in the attack remained unclear. He was later deported on immigration charges.

Q & A

What event is the focus of this story?

The story focuses on a biological attack in The Dalles, Oregon, in 1984, where a salmonella outbreak affected hundreds of people, and it took years for authorities to uncover the truth behind it.

How did the residents of The Dalles react to the outbreak?

The residents were seriously ill, with symptoms such as cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. Some, like David and Sandy Lutgens, experienced severe dehydration and delirium, and many people were hospitalized.

What were the initial theories about the source of the outbreak?

Initially, the outbreak was suspected to be caused by poor hygiene of food handlers and cross-contamination, but no single source could be identified. The outbreak seemed to be widespread across multiple restaurants, leading to suspicions of intentional contamination.

What did epidemiologists discover about the strain of salmonella involved?

Epidemiologists found that the strain of salmonella involved in the outbreak was exceptionally rare and biochemically distinct from most other strains. It was also not resistant to antibiotics, unlike many other salmonella strains.

How did the Rajneeshees become connected to the outbreak?

The Rajneeshees, a religious cult living outside The Dalles, were suspected of being behind the outbreak. Investigators later discovered that the cult had intentionally contaminated food with salmonella in an effort to influence local elections.

Why did the Rajneeshees target the local population with salmonella?

The Rajneeshees wanted to influence local elections by making voters too sick to go to the polls. They targeted the population of The Dalles in an attempt to ensure that their candidates would win the county commission elections.

What evidence linked the Rajneeshees to the outbreak?

After a federal raid on the Rajneeshee commune, investigators found vials of salmonella in the cult’s medical clinic that matched the strain responsible for the outbreak in The Dalles. Plasmid profiling confirmed that the bacterial strains were identical.

What were some other suspicious activities by the Rajneeshees discovered during the investigation?

Investigators uncovered surveillance devices placed by the Rajneeshees throughout the town, as well as evidence of illegal wiretapping and plans for bioterrorism. The cult had also prepared manuals on making bombs and engaging in dirty tricks.

What was the Rajneeshee’s first attempt at poisoning the town, and why did it fail?

The Rajneeshees first attempted to poison the town in August by spraying salmonella on door handles at the courthouse and produce in local supermarkets. However, no one fell ill, so they tried again in September with a more targeted approach by contaminating salad bars at local restaurants.

What was the ultimate fate of the people involved in the biological attack?

Ma Anand Sheela and Puja, who orchestrated the poisoning, were eventually extradited and charged with tampering with consumer products. They pled guilty and served time in federal prison. Sheela later moved to Europe, where she ran a nursing home, while Rajneesh was arrested for immigration violations and died in India in 1990.