FAST FACTS:
(West Memphis, AR 08/10/2009) Dr. Randeep Mann took the oath to heal, but he could soon face charges for harming a popular West Memphis doctor who headed the state Medical Board.
Dr. Mann has moved from the ATF's list of "person of interest" to "prime suspect."
The news released Monday in a Little Rock, Arkansas federal court during a detention hearing for Dr. Mann's wife Sangeeta.
She didn't answer any questions after being released on bond for obstruction of justice.
Resident Agent Grover Crossland explained why Dr. Mann is now the prime suspect.
"It's an accumulation of evidence we've been acquiring. There's no one significant thing I can release at this time."
West Memphis Police Chief, Bob Paudert says, " I'm not surprised."
Though he says his department pulled out of the investigation several weeks ago, he says he's been kept in the loop.
Chief Paudert believes the smoking gun that led investigators to Mann was the cache of weapons he kept.
In March, a month after the bombing, grenades and launchers were found near Dr. Mann's home as well as $1 million worth of unregistered machine guns.
"These were military-grade weapons designed to kill. You're talking about hand grenades, machine guns and weaponry in that way...anytime you've got grenades and explosives you've got to at least look in that area and I think they did," explained Paudert.
Early in the investigation Dr. Mann was a person of interest.
In fact, Chief Paudert says the Pope County, Arkansas doctor was one of the first people interviewed after the February blast.
That's because in addition to his weapons stash, Dr. Mann was brought before the state Medical Board headed by Dr. Pierce.
"He was brought before the board on more than one occasion and disciplined by Dr. Pierce," says Paudert. "That as a police officer would tell me that could be a motive."
Dr. Mann has not been charged in connection with the bombing of the scarred Dr. Pierce. He is behind bars for weapons charges. Federal agents say they're still investigating this crime. They won't say if they're looking at any other suspects.
- Jailed doctor moves from "person of interest" to "prime suspect" in bombing
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- The bombing that critically injured a popular West Memphis doctor who headed state Medical Board
(West Memphis, AR 08/10/2009) Dr. Randeep Mann took the oath to heal, but he could soon face charges for harming a popular West Memphis doctor who headed the state Medical Board.
Dr. Mann has moved from the ATF's list of "person of interest" to "prime suspect."
The news released Monday in a Little Rock, Arkansas federal court during a detention hearing for Dr. Mann's wife Sangeeta.
She didn't answer any questions after being released on bond for obstruction of justice.
Resident Agent Grover Crossland explained why Dr. Mann is now the prime suspect.
"It's an accumulation of evidence we've been acquiring. There's no one significant thing I can release at this time."
West Memphis Police Chief, Bob Paudert says, " I'm not surprised."
Though he says his department pulled out of the investigation several weeks ago, he says he's been kept in the loop.
Chief Paudert believes the smoking gun that led investigators to Mann was the cache of weapons he kept.
In March, a month after the bombing, grenades and launchers were found near Dr. Mann's home as well as $1 million worth of unregistered machine guns.
"These were military-grade weapons designed to kill. You're talking about hand grenades, machine guns and weaponry in that way...anytime you've got grenades and explosives you've got to at least look in that area and I think they did," explained Paudert.
Early in the investigation Dr. Mann was a person of interest.
In fact, Chief Paudert says the Pope County, Arkansas doctor was one of the first people interviewed after the February blast.
That's because in addition to his weapons stash, Dr. Mann was brought before the state Medical Board headed by Dr. Pierce.
"He was brought before the board on more than one occasion and disciplined by Dr. Pierce," says Paudert. "That as a police officer would tell me that could be a motive."
Dr. Mann has not been charged in connection with the bombing of the scarred Dr. Pierce. He is behind bars for weapons charges. Federal agents say they're still investigating this crime. They won't say if they're looking at any other suspects.
