Who is James Everett Dutschke? Taekwondo and karate instructor who sent ricin letters to Barack Obama & US officials
JAMES Everett Dutschke was convicted of sending letters containing ricin to Barack Obama and US officials, despite claiming he was just making fertilizer.
Here’s everything we know about what happened and why he posted the poison-spiked packages.
Who is James Everett Dutschke?
James Everett Dutschke is a martial arts instructor from Tupelo, Mississippi.
He gained notoriety for sending ricin-laced letters to high-ranking US officials, including former President Barack Obama, in April 2013.
Dutschke, who was 41 years old at the time of his sentencing in May 2014, operated a Taekwondo studio in Tupelo before his arrest.
In April 2013, poisoned letters addressed to Obama, Mississippi Republican Senator Roger Wicker and Lee County Justice Court Judge Sadie Holland were intercepted at the US Capitol’s off-site mail facility in Washington, D.C.
Elvis impersonator arrested
Initially, authorities arrested Paul Kevin Curtis, an Elvis impersonator, in connection with the case.
However, Curtis was released after investigators found no evidence linking him to the crime.
The investigation then shifted focus to Dutschke, who had a history of feuding with Curtis.
James Everett Dutschke's fued with Paul Kevin Curtis
Their relationship began in 2005 when Dutschke worked for Curtis' brother Jack at an insurance office. Initially friendly, it soured over time due to several factors:
- Newsletter dispute: Dutschke refused to publish Curtis’ allegations about body-part trafficking in a newsletter he produced.
- Physical confrontation: The two had a physical altercation at a Tupelo restaurant.
- Online stalking accusations: Curtis became convinced that Dutschke was stalking him online.
- Mensa membership controversy: Curtis claimed on Facebook to be a Mensa member, which angered Dutschke, an actual Mensa member. Dutschke threatened to sue Curtis for fraud over this false claim.
- Mutual accusations: Their feud centered around “who is the biggest liar and is putting false information on their website,” according to Curtis’ lawyer.
This long-standing rivalry ultimately escalated to the point where Dutschke allegedly framed Curtis by sending the ricin-laced letters to Obama and the other officials, leading to Curtis’ initial arrest.
True cuprit
On April 27, 2013, federal agents arrested Dutschke at his home in Tupelo.
He was charged with attempted use of a biological weapon and later indicted on five counts, including producing and using ricin as a weapon and using the mail to threaten President Obama, Senator Wicker, and Judge Holland.
Target motives
The motives behind Dutschke’s actions remain unclear, but it appears to be rooted in a complex web of personal vendettas.
Dutschke had previous run-ins with Judge Holland, having unsuccessfully campaigned against her son, state Representative Steve Holland.
At a 2007 political rally in Verona, Mississippi, Dutschke gave a speech filled with personal and professional attacks on the judge’s son.
His feud with Curtis may have played a role in his decision to frame Curtis for the ricin letters.
Just making fertilizer
In May 2014, Dutschke pleaded guilty to the charges against him.
But he then attempted to withdraw his guilty plea, saying he was only guilty of using castor beans to make a harmless fertilizer.
Dutschke ultimately accepted a 25-years in prison — withdrawing his guilty plea could have seen him given a life sentence, as well as a longer term in state court proceedings..
During his sentencing, US District Judge Sharion Aycock ordered Dutschke to serve his term in a high-security federal prison.
The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga
The case surrounding the ricin letters is explored in the three-part true crime documentary The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga.
Netflix’s description of the show reads: “In this bizarre true-crime tale, an Elvis impersonator’s conspiracy theory sets off a feud that spirals into an attempted presidential assassination.”
The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga drops on Netflix on December 11, 2024.