Single fingerprint, misspellings pointed FBI to mail bombs suspect

A single fingerprint and several misspelled words were among some of the clues that pointed the FBI to a Florida man who was charged Friday with mailing homemade bombs to prominent Democrats, The Washington Post reported.

Cesar Sayoc Jr., a supporter of President Trump, was arrested Friday in connection with a series of 13 suspicious packages and pipe bombs that were sent to high-profile Democrats including former President Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Vice President Joe Biden, among others.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said at a press conference following Sayoc’s arrest that investigators were able to find a fingerprint on the envelope of a bomb sent to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.).

{mosads}The fingerprint marked a breakthrough for investigators, who were able to gather Sayoc’s cellphone records and track his surveillance in Florida, an official told The Post.

A number of posts supporting Trump and others critical of the media and Democrats also helped lead investigators to Sayoc.

Investigators were able to connect the more than one dozen packages because some contained the same misspellings, the Post reported. According to the criminal complaint against Sayoc, some of the packages included the same misspellings found on Sayoc’s social media postings. 

Investigators pointed to the misspelling of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s (D), which was listed as the return address on some of the suspicious packages. The prominent Florida Democrat’s name was spelled “Shultz” on the packages, according to the criminal complaint.

Suspicious packages were also sent to Wasserman Schultz, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former CIA Director John Brennan. Both packages addressed to Clapper and Brennan were addressed to them at CNN’s New York offices. 

The 13 total packages contained improvised explosive devices that consisted of PVC piping, a small clock, wiring, a battery and “potential explosives,” Wray said during Friday’s press conference.

Evidence technicians also found a DNA sample of two of the homemade explosive devices, which was a possible match to DNA obtained when Sayoc had previously been arrested.

Sayoc, a former pizza deliveryman and strip-club worker from Aventura, Fla., has a lengthy criminal record that includes a prior arrest in connection with threatening to use a bomb.

The 56-year-old was charged with interstate transportation of an explosive, illegal mailing of explosives, threats against former presidents and certain other persons, threatening interstate communication and assaulting federal officers. He could face up to 48 years in prison if convicted.