Deadly ricin sows 'seeds' of suspicion

The castor bean plant is prized by gardeners, landscapers and botanists for its beautiful, lush leaves and rapid growth habit. Scores of garden companies offer the seeds for sale in catalogs and on the Internet.

But it's also the source of one of the deadliest toxins known to man — ricin. And since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and subsequent attention to biological and chemical toxins, some of those companies have begun paying attention to who buys the seeds and in what quantities.

"We would definitely pay attention if someone we don't know tries to buy a large amount," said one employee of Gurney's Seed and Nursery, which sells castor beans on its Internet site.

Kirkland man arrested

A Kirkland man was arrested last week after federal authorities found what appeared to be processed castor-seed pulp, labels on jars that read "caution ricin poison," and materials used to make ricin in his residence.

According to charging papers filed in U.S. District Court, Robert M. Alberg, 37, is accused of knowingly possessing a biological agent or toxin. Sheffield Seed Company had reported Alberg bought five pounds of the seeds via mail.

The federal complaint doesn't indicate whether Alberg planned to release the ricin. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance tomorrow, where a judge could order him to undergo a mental-heath evaluation.

Though used in the manufacture of ricin, the castor bean plant has other uses.

"It has really fabulous beautiful, tropical-looking leaves," said Tracy Mehlin of the Elisabeth C. Miller Library at the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture.

Ricinus communis, from which castor oil is derived, has also had a prized place in many old-fashioned gardens as a deer and mole repellent.

Several seed companies say they do not intend to stop selling the popular seeds, pointing out there are many poisonous plants around.

"The Dogwood tree is poisonous, ivy is poisonous, the philodendron," said Alan Hirt, of Hirt's Greenhouse. "And just look at how many people tobacco kills each year. You just have to use a little common sense. Drano will kill you, too, if you eat it."

Discovery shocks residents

Meanwhile, residents in the Kirkland neighborhood where Alberg lives expressed surprise at the federal agents' discovery.

"Obviously, we were shocked," said Mike Vega, 46, whose wife and two grade school-aged daughters live down the street from Alberg's apartment.

"When you see yellow tape strapped across like a crime scene, all you think is, 'what the heck is going on?' " Vega said.

Though it's unclear what Alberg's intentions were, "he had a very toxic substance," Vega said.

Arlene Shane, 71, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1949 said she tried previously to speak with Alberg while they were out in the street. "But you couldn't talk to him; he'd just run. He was like a little jack rabbit, " Shane said.

Another longtime resident of the neighborhood said he used to see Alberg during the occasional times when he'd check the mail.

"I never paid much attention to him. But it's a real shocker, because this is such a quiet neighborhood," said Don Yuly, 62, who lives down the street from Alberg. "I can't help but think what plans (Alberg) had," Yuly said.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com

Levi Long: 206-464-2061 or levilong@seattletimes.com