North Suburban Bureau

Man Who Ordered Poison Was Probed In Murder Plot

Edward Bachner Of Lake In The Hills Accused Of Possessing Deadly Puffer Fish Toxin

ROCKFORD, Ill. (CBS) ― A man who is accused of possessing a deadly toxin found in puffer fish was previously suspected in a murder-for-hire plot, a federal affidavit said.

Edward F. Bachner, 35, of Lake in the Hills was charged Monday with possessing tetrodotoxin, or TTX, which is described by the FBI as a "central nerve agent."

The toxin, found naturally in species of puffer fish and other animals, is 50 to 60 percent deadly and has no known antidote. Death usually occurs within 6 to 24 hours, according to the affidavit.

Bachner allegedly masqueraded as a doctor named "Edmund Backer" at the fictitious "EB Strategic Research," for which he used an address in Algonquin that was really a post office box, the affidavit said.

He attempted to purchase 98 milligrams of TTX from the chemical company Ascent Scientific, alarming an employee who said orders of more than 2 milligrams are rare, the affidavit said. The Ascent employee contacted the FBI on June 17, the affidavit said.

Investigators discovered that Bachner had also purchased and received at least 64 milligrams of TTX from another chemical company, Biotium Inc., through his phony laboratory. But that company refused to place an order for 100 milligrams on June 11 of this year, the affidavit said.

The affidavit did not specify what Bachner had planned to use the TTX for, but said there was evidence that Bachner was involved in a murder-for-hire plot in 2006.

A cooperating witness detailed a conversation on the Internet with someone who needed help in a murder. The evidence prompted to seize records from Hush Communications, a service that allows for encrypted messages that expire after a short time, the affidavit said.

According to the affidavit, one message to the informant said in part: "Mark lives in Chicago NW suburb, works in Mount Prospect, IL. Female, 32, no firearms, combat or hand-to hand training. Expected project completion time frame within 30 days. More info to follow. Non-targeted causes preferred (i.e., robbery gone wrong instead of a sniper shot) to preserve 'randomness' of 'permanent-retirement' actions. Please let me know if you are able to take on this project, thank you."

The affidavit did not specify who the woman targeted in the plot was.

The IP address associated with the messages was traced back to Bachner, and the FBI interviewed him about the alleged plot after tracing his IP address.

FBI agents suspected Bachner was lying about not being involved, and he later told them: "I was bored. I had no intent," the affidavit said. Bachner was never charged in the case.

To capture Bachner in the TTX possession case, agents set off a small sting in which a small controlled amount of the toxin was delivered to him. When he accepted delivery he was arrested for illegal possession of a toxin, which is a felony offense. That led to the search of his home.

Bachner will remain in FBI custody until 11 a.m. Wednesday, when he will appear for a hearing in U.S. District Court in Rockford.

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