Hearing postponed for Lake in the Hills man in toxin case
A Lake in the Hills man charged with obtaining a deadly toxin will remain locked up until at least Monday after a federal magistrate this morning postponed a hearing to determine whether it is safe to allow him free on bond.
With family, friends and news media packed on courtroom benches behind him, Edward F. Bachner appeared in U.S. District Court for the second time since the FBI arrested him Monday after an investigation into claims he tried to obtain 98 milligrams of tetrodotoxin, a dangerous poison typically culled from the internal organs of the puffer fish.
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Bachner, 35, faces a charge of unlawful possession of a toxin, a felony that could land him in prison for 10 years if he's found guilty.
FBI officials say they are still investigating how Bachner intended to use the toxin, which can cause paralysis and death if inhaled or ingested even in tiny doses.
Bachner's wife, parents and other family members declined to comment outside the courtroom. A family friend, Jeff Block, said, "We're here to support the family." His attorney, James Marcus, declined to comment on the accusations, but said Bachner's family is stunned by the charge.
"Clearly everybody is shellshocked," he said. "He's never had any contact with law enforcement before this, never been arrested."
Marcus declined to say whether Bachner has, or would, deny the allegations.
"This is a very serious matter and he's taking it as such," he said. "He recognizes the gravity of the charges."
The charges stem from a two-week FBI investigation initiated when an employee at a New Jersey chemical company contacted authorities about a man claiming to be a doctor placing an unusually large order for tetrodotoxin, also known as TTX.
Authorities say they traced the order back to Bachner, a self-employed financial consultant, and arrested him Monday when he picked up a shipment of TTX at an Algonquin UPS Store.
Members of the FBI's anti-terrorism task force, a local bomb squad and other law enforcement officials descended on Bachner's home at 5704 McKenzie Drive late Monday morning to search the residence. Court documents disclosed Tuesday show that agents found six empty vials of the deadly toxin inside the home, along with syringes, needles and a book on how to effectively poison people.
Authorities also revealed Tuesday that between November 2006 and May of this year, Bachner had obtained at least 64 milligrams of TTX from a second source.
In another twist, the FBI said in court papers Tuesday they investigated Bachner two years ago over allegations he attempted to hire a hit man over the Internet to kill an undisclosed 32-year-old woman living in the Chicago area.
Bachner, according to an FBI agent's affidavit, offered a Tennessee resident $8,000 and an untraceable AK-47 in exchange for the murder. When questioned about the offer, Bachner told agents: "I was bored. I had no intent," according to the FBI.
He never was charged in connection with the alleged plot. Marcus declined to comment today on the murder-for-hire claims, but said Bachner and his wife have a "positive" relationship and had no plans to divorce.
Bachner is scheduled to return to court Monday afternoon, at which time U.S. District Court Magistrate P. Michael Mahoney is expected to decide whether Bachner can go free on bond while his case is pending. The decision will be based on whether the magistrate believes Bachner is a flight risk or would be a threat to the public if released.