Just got off the phone with John Wright, who is the supervisor in the Provo FBI office.

According to him, the FBI’s involvement was merely to forward the letter they got to the local authorities. All the law enforcement, then, was performed by the Provo PD with one Joint Terrorism Task Force person (a sheriff’s deputy whose been deputized for the JTTF). This JTTF person was either at the scene or at the hospital.

Per Mr. Wright, the sequence was:
– Letter received at the FBI website. Contained phrases of concern (going to kill…take me seriously…eating souls) but deemed a matter for local authorities. Forwarded.
– Provo PD consulted with Wasatch Mental Health. Mr. Wright at first stated there were other indications of concern (e.g., simultaneous e-mail correspondence from family members), though ultimately he was not sure there was anything more than the letter sent to the FBI.
– Provo PD went to home.
– Provo PD transported Richard to the hospital.

For the facts upon which these actions were taken, Mr. Wright suggested we file a request under the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA). Sounds like we would submit the GRAMA to the Provo PD.

Tags: Writing