MEMPHIS, TN: MEDICAL EXAMINER AMUSHED

The Commercial Appeal ^ | 6/3/02 | Yolanda Jones

[GailA]

Medical examiner ambushed Bomb, barbed wire, acid used in attack on Smith

By Yolanda Jones yojones@gomemphis.com June 3, 2002

An attacker ambushed Shelby County Medical Examiner Dr. O. C. Smith Saturday night, wrapped him from head to toe in barbed wire and strapped a bomb to his body.

Police said Smith left his office at about 10 and was headed to the parking lot when someone threw an acid-like substance in his face to subdue him.

For nearly three hours, he was unable to move or shout for help because of the barbed wire in his mouth.

A security guard spotted Smith's vehicle in the parking lot, became suspicious and found Smith about 12:30 a.m. Sunday outside the office building in the medical center.

The police bomb squad was called to free Smith because of the device bound to his body. Smith was taken to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis and treated for cuts, bruises and a chemical burn to his face.

Released early Sunday, Smith went back to his office to help investigators work the case.

"This is his character," said Deputy Chief R. G. Wright of the Memphis police. "He is always willing to help out and always go the extra mile no matter what."

Sunday, police had more questions than answers.

"Yes, this was a functioning device that could have caused serious injuries or killed somebody," said Gene Marquez, resident agent in charge of the federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms office in Memphis.

This is the second time in the last three months a bomb or explosive device has been left on the doorstep of the Shelby County Regional Forensic Center, which houses the morgue and the Medical Examiner's Office.

On March 13, a bomb and two smaller explosive-type devices were found in a stairwell of the building at 1060 Madison.

At the time, local and federal agents couldn't say for sure if Smith and his staff were the targets.

Saturday's attack on Smith left police with little doubt about the focus of the attack but no answers as to why.

"We don't know a motive and aren't making any assumptions as to why anyone would want to hurt Dr. Smith," said Wright.

During a noon press conference, Memphis police and ATF agents wouldn't disclose specifics of the investigation such as information about a suspect or details about the device. Authorities said Smith was found on an outside stairway on the west side of the forensic center building. It was near the area where the bomb and other devices were found in March.

"All we can say is the components of this device are similar to the one found in March," said Marquez. "Both are not very sophisticated and are very similar, but until we finish the investigation we can't say if the two are connected."

When the device was removed from Smith, police X-rayed it to see if it was an explosive device. When they determined it was a bomb, they sent it to the ATF lab in Atlanta for further analysis.

Today, the ATF's National Response Team, made up of agents who are experts on explosive devices and who specialize in profiling bombers, will arrive in Memphis.

"This is the cream of the cream," Marquez said. "We are planning to saturate this investigation and team up with local police on this matter immediately."

The ATF also is offering a $5,000 reward for information about the case.

The Commercial Appeal could not reach Smith, who was placed under heavy security, for comment.

Smith, 49, is one of several local forensic science specialists who help investigate criminal cases.

Last year, anonymous letters threatened harm to Smith, a prosecution witness in the long-running case of convicted Memphis cop killer Philip Workman.

Smith said at the time that he had not received any letters himself but was taking the threats "very seriously."

Workman's attorneys had challenged the validity of Smith's ballistics and laboratory tests. Smith said the tests proved Workman's bullet killed Memphis police Lt. Ronald Oliver in 1981.

In one letter, the writer called Smith a liar and said, "Long have I waited for my HOLY ORDER to fight against the DOCTOR-KILLER abortionists but now I know OUR LORD was saving me for something larger."

"I know Dr. Smith has worked several big cases, but I can't imagine who would want to hurt him," said Wright. "That is what we are working on now to find out."

Known for his precision and thorough work, Smith is highly regarded by police and prosecutors and defense attorneys as well.

"In the 1994 case where we found three homicide victims hidden in the cemetery, Dr. Smith was right there down in the graves working hard like always," said Wright.

Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 528-CASH or the ATF hotline at (888) ATF-BOMB.

- Yolanda Jones: 529-2380

[GailA]

http://www.gomemphis.com/mca/local_news/article/0,1426,MCA_437_1184788,00.html

Smith worked high-profile cases June 3, 2002

Dr. O. C. Smith, who was attacked Saturday by an unknown assailant, was chosen to serve as Shelby County's medical examiner two years ago.

His job includes working with police on criminal investigations as well as testifying sometimes as a key witness in a case.

In March, a bomb and two smaller explosive-type devices were found outside of the Shelby County Regional Forensic Center.

At that time, Smith acknowledged that his office had worked on a number of highly publicized cases.

"We have done several high-profile cases from (miss ing Harvard researcher) Dr. (Don) Wiley to Katherine Smith but there has been no indication that we offended anyone," Smith said.

Smith ruled that Wiley, an internationally recognized scientist who had done research on AIDS and Ebola, died accidentally by falling from the Hernando DeSoto Bridge.

Wiley was in Memphis for a conference when he disappeared Nov. 15 and his rental car was found on the bridge.

After an extensive investigation that brought worldwide attention, Wiley's body was discovered Dec. 20 in the Mississippi River, about 300 miles south of Memphis.

When Smith announced his ruling in January, he said the Harvard scientist might have been disoriented from a seizure when he accidentally fell to his death.

In another case that brought widespread attention, the Medical Examiner's Office conducted the autopsy of Katherine Smith, the Tennessee driver's license examiner whose body was burned beyond recognition in a fiery car wreck on Feb. 10.

Just five days earlier Smith had been charged in a federal inquiry with conspiracy to obtain fraudulent driver's licenses for several Middle Eastern men.

State officials are awaiting complete autopsy results before announcing the cause of death.

- Yolanda Jones

[GailA]

http://www.gomemphis.com/mca/home/article/0,1426,MCA_435_1184264,00.html

March 14, 2002: 'No hoax -- bomb found outside county morgue

By Yolanda Jones

March 14, 2002

A bomb and two smaller explosive-type devices were found Wednesday morning in the stairwell outside of the Shelby County Regional Forensic Center on Madison, which houses the morgue and the Medical Examiner's Office.

"This was no hoax," said Gene Marquez, resident agent in charge of the Memphis federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms office. "This was the real deal."

A cleaning man found the devices sitting in an aluminum pan on the west side of the building at 1060 Madison about 10 a.m.

He said he thought it was "a pan of food," but a closer inspection revealed the pan contained some sort of explosive devices, said the man, who was told by his supervisor not to give his name.

Dr. O. C. Smith, the county medical examiner, was called to examine the devices, confirmed they were explosives and called police.

"We have done several high-profile cases from (missing Harvard researcher) Dr. (Don) Wiley to Katherine Smith but there has been no indication that we offended anyone," Smith said. "We just don't know if we were the intended target or not.''

Smith, a driver's license examiner, was found burned to death in her car last month after she was charged in a federal inquiry with conspiracy to obtain fraudulent driver's licenses.

"We don't know if this had anything to do with these cases, and are continuing our investigation," Marquez said.

Officers surrounded the brick building, and blocked traffic on Madison and the Interstate 240 exit ramp with squad cars soon after the devices were found.

ATF agents, along with the Memphis Police Bomb Squad and the Memphis Fire Department, swarmed around the building and evacuated the seven employees inside. They also used a bomb-sniffing dog as they tried to determine if there were any other explosive devices in the building.

Marquez said an explosive device was found and described the other two objects as "destructive devices" that were not as damaging.

Police Deputy Chief Charles Cook said the devices found were not "sophisticated," but did not elaborate, including not revealing whether they had a detonator or a timer.

"It potentially could have been a large blast if exploded," Cook said. "We can't speculate on who left this and why, but we don't think it was a terrorist act. We aren't sure if the employees in the forensic center were the targets or not."

Cook said the devices were taken to the Memphis police gun range at O. K. Robertson Road in northwest Shelby County, where they were detonated.

The results will be sent to the ATF lab in Atlanta for analysis, Marquez said.

After it was determined there were no other devices in the building, the forensic employees were allowed to go back to work.

Smith, who was preparing for court when the devices were found, said the incident was upsetting for his staff.

But Smith, who has an extensive military background, said he recognized the device as a bomb immediately.

"We have gotten threats in the past because we work a lot of cases," said Smith. "But nothing like this has been found at our building. Like I said, I am not even sure we were the targets."

[Blood of Tyrants]

What the hell was the BATF there for? Was the guy smoking a cigarette from a pack with no tax sticker?

[kellynla]

Gail, any possible connection to the individual who as I recall worked at the DMV and sold the ID's to the middle eastern guys who was found in her car all burned up???? Sorry but I can't remember all the details...

[Dixielander]

I'm not great with html but I think the following will link you to a grouping of FR articles about the Tennessee license scandal. focus/fr/involved?gro383

[Dixielander]

Sorry, I tried the link but it didn't work; perhaps someone else can get you to the Tennessee license scandal group posted somewhere on FR.

[mrustow]

Thanks for the great cyber-gumshoe work. None of the authorities wants to address the possibility that Arabs are behind these attacks.

[archy]

Her name was Katherine Smith. Shermy had a pretty good collection of links to many of those posts; possibly he'll list them here.

-archy-/-

[JDGreen123]

Here is the link to the other running diswcussion at FR on this issue:

Medical Examiner Attacked, Tied to Bomb Outside Office [Memphis, again!]

Shermy setup a list of all stories related to Memphis and terrorism. I believe this is the link: TN License Scandal Stories

Don't forget the Somalian inquiring of a professor at the University of Memphis as to how to make weapons of mass destruction. The FBI visited the professor. Dr. Wiley's mysterious fall from the bridge. Ms. Smith's "accident". The 5 guys in the license scandal, all Middle Eastern, one had worked on the sprinkler system in the WTC in early September. The Pakistani professor at Lemoyne-Owen College who is alleged to have ties to some of the militant Muslim groups in the US. Steve Emerson, "Jihad in America" visited Memphis a while back to investigate the happenings.

[JDGreen123]

Of course. Tom Ridge runs around giving us vauge threats while the real thing is covered up. How many more situations like this one in Memphis have been quietly locked away from public attention?

[Shermy]

There's a whole lot of something wrong going down in Tennessee. Here's my template. Any advice on edits or additions welcome:

___________________

Feb. 7
Six Charged in Tenn. License Plot [Courtesy of the Tennessee DemocRAT Party]

Feb. 8 (for comedic relief)
Dri ver license fraud case here is a rare incident, state says
Feb. 11
WOMAN ARRESTED FOR AIDING ARABS IN DRIVER'S LICENSE SCAM PRESUMED DEAD
Tennessee finds a cost to easing driver's license rules Some other states, airlines no longer accept (Boston Globe)
Feb. 12
Feds fear license examiner is dead - Memphis Woman's co-defendants tied to 9/11, judge told
Feb. 13:
Body in car identified as license examiner - Update on Memphis, Tennesse License Examiner
Feb. 14
TENN DRIVER LICENSE SCANDAL: FLAMING DEATH NO ACCIDENT, FBI SAYS
TENN DRIVER LICENSE SCANDAL: FLAMING DEATH NO ACCIDENT, FBI SAYS (II)
Flaming death no accident, FBI says - Gasoline found on clothes of license examiner
Feb. 15
New York Times (with Pics of car) F.B.I. Says Arson Killed Woman Accused in License Scheme
Sm ith led low-impact life until arrest, fiery end (Not a thread)
Images of the burned car owned by Katherine Smith * alternate title: How Arabs Kill Witnesses
FBI Agent: Arson Killed Key Suspect (driver's license examiner accused of supplying terrorists)
Feb.16
License suspect had WTC repair pass, but Port Authority did its own work [Tennessee License Scandal]
TE NN DRIVER LICENSE SCANDAL: FLAMING DEATH NO ACCIDENT, FBI SAYS
***FBI checking 5 in illegal-license cases for possible al-Qaida links
Feb. 18:
Mourners remember the good deeds of license examiner, not how she died
Feb. 20
State Immigrant I.D. Llicense for Disaster, Foes Say [Tennessee License Scandal - Business as Usual]
Terror in Tennessee? (Front Page magazine)
Feb. 22
Terroris m expert [Steven Emerson] monitors the Mid-South (WMC-TV Memphis 2/23)
Feb. 24:
Caution: Driver license rule-makers at work
Feb. 28
5 men with Mideast ties indicted in license scam
March 6
Patrol says examiner's death not due to crash (+ witness accounts)
March 8
Editorial 3/8: Driver licensing process needs review
***March 13
***Three bombs found in MEMPHIS morgue building [ongoing sweep of building]
***March 14
***MEMPHIS: 'NO HOAX' BOMB FOUND OUTSIDE COUNTY MORGUE
***March 29
S uspect in ID fraud goes free on bond-Dad goes bail; 4 remain jailed (Odtllah has numerous I.D.’s, Child sexual abuse allegation
April 1
Suspect in ID fraud goes free on bond (Tennessee)
April 2
License-fraud suspect denied bond
May 11
Li cense plot suspect pleads guilty - Will likely testify against 4 co-defendants
May 21
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/686591/posts>Three defendants plead guilty in driver's license fraud case (Tennessee Drivers License Scandal)
4 admit fraud amid questions on death of license examiner
***June 2
Medical Examiner Attacked, Tied to Bomb Outside Office [Memphis, again!]

*TN License Scandals
Pics of License Scam suspects
Color Pics of Suspects
Other Stories
Body of Missing Biologist Found [Memphis!]
I-70 Traffic Stop Turns Up $300K In Cash, Undocumented Jordanian (Al Qaida Operative?) [2/22 Utah]
Licenses for undocumented aliens steer legislators both ways - Driving: INS official says passage of bill would make deportation more difficult; proponents say it would give sense of identity (Kansas 2/20)
Immigrant Licenses Debated ( ILLEGAL ALIENS... AGAIN )[Kansas 2/20]
***Grass roots, politicians differ on immigration (2/14 plus Grover Norquist Barf Alert)
FBI investigating ‘‘mass destruction’’ inquiry (2/21 Somali asks U. of Memphis professor for weapons advice
GAO Report Finds “Pervasive and Serious Problem”” with Immigration Benefit Fraud Terrorists and Drug Dealers Manipulating Benefits Application Process To Carry Out Criminal Activities
Man on FBI watch list spotted (2/23 Iraqi, with Saddam Connections, in truck with OK lic. Plates, Picking up chemicals in Michigan. Egads!) Santa Paula Mayor's Wife Target of Probe (Calif. -Selling Drivers Licenses to Illegals)
Phony IDs, Real Danger (CBS 2/26)
NJ Man Charged in Bogus ID Ring Linked to 9/11 Hijackers Driver's Licenses To Be Easier For Foreigners (New Mex. 2/28)
Nationwide Alert Focuses On Arkansas Document Centers On Fake Ids (3/7)
Man accused of carrying false ID ordered held without bail (Indiana, Pakistan, Guinea 3/13
Jersey City Egyptian Arrested with Fake ID 3/13

And don’t forget the stories about the Doctor who “fell” off a Memphis bridge!

[Free the USA]

fyi

[Inge_CAV]

Not need to worry now though, Federal airport screeners are doing body searches on elderly grandmothers.

/sarcasm!

[null and void]

No comments on the ethnicity of the assailant. Any bets? I note they did try to muddy the water with the anti-abotionist hate letter...

[DoughtyOne]

I wonder if any of this is Tennesside?

[weegee]

"We have done several high-profile cases from (miss ing Harvard researcher) Dr. (Don) Wiley to Katherine Smith but there has been no indication that we offended anyone," Smith said.

I'm sorry, did I "offend" you by examining the carcasses that remain from the havok you caused mr. criminal??? < /sarcasm >

The attempts are getting rather brazen to take this man down. Someone doesn't want some people to talk.

Of course this could all be a wild "coincidence".

Anyone a "mob buff"? I know that there are people who like to read up on organized crime. I'm just curious if any mobs ever made it a matter of recourse to kill investigative scientiests (genetic scientists, forensic scientists, etc...). I'd think that they would steer clear of this kind of thing. A terrorist cell might have more to protect.

I say this because terrorist cells want to remain invisible so that they can do their damage uninterupted. Organized crime needs to be somewhat public so that they can reach the audience that buys their services (drugs, gambling, murder, prostitution, political influence...). Law enforcement is more likely to look the other way with regards to the actions of an organized crime ring than they are to the actions of a terrorist cell (thus the need to remain invisible).

[JDGreen123]

I noticed that also. We can assume the assailant was not white, they would have said that without any problem. It's 50/50 whether they would admit the attacker was black, latino, or asian. There is probably 0% chance that they would tell us that the man was a Middle Easterner. Thus, I have to assume the attacker was a Muslim.

[null and void]

Pretty much exactly my reasoning and conclusion. You racists B@sturd! ;^)

[Fred Mertz]

During a noon press conference, Memphis police and ATF agents wouldn't disclose specifics of the investigation such as information about a suspect or details about the device.

I hope by now they've come to their senses and released info about the perp. This is unreal.

[Shermy]

I remember seeing this guy in video in the past incident. Ex-army guy I recall.