Puffer Fish Toxin Lands Man Possible Life Sentence

What ever happened to rat poison… or even arsenic? When Edward F. Bachner IV decided that he wanted to kill his wife and cash in on the insurance policy, those must have been too easy.

According to the Northwest Herald and federal authorities, Bachner allegedly planned to kill his wife, with style: by using puffer fish toxin. Fortunately that plan did not work out, because his wife, Rebecca Bachner, was present in court on August 2^nd when her husband pled guilty to three separate counts from his indictment.

Bachner pled guilty to charges of wire fraud, possession of a lethal toxin for use as a weapon, and filing of false tax claims. Prosecutors stated that Bachner falsified those claims in the hopes of collecting millions of dollars in life insurance policies in the event of his wife’s death.

The judge, Frederick Kapala, asked Bachner if he understood the terms of the deal when he pled guilty, and if he had read the 22-page plea agreement. Bachner responded with “yes. Several times.”

Bachner has been in custody since he was arrested June 30, 2008, after picking up a package that prosecutors say he believed contained tetrotodoxine from an Algonquin UPS store.

Also known as TTX, the toxin is found naturally in puffer fish and can be deadly when ingested.

During a search of Bachner’s home, authorities state that they found fake CIA credentials, a handgun, over 50 knives, and books on subjects such as lock-picking and silencers.

Throughout January 2007 to June 2008, Bachner, under count one, devised a scheme to defraud and obtain money from insurance companies by means of false and fraudulent pretenses. On Feb. 11, 2008, Bachner transferred $39,989.49 from his checking account to a California underwriter to buy a $20 million life insurance policy for his wife. And in doing so, he misrepresented her employment, education and work experience, the count reads.

Count one carries a maximum prison term of 20 years.

Count four, which carries a sentence of life imprisonment, states that Bachner possessed TTX for use as a weapon

Count 14, which brings with it a maximum of five years, states that Bachner made false claims to the U.S. Treasury Department because federal income taxes were being withheld from his income. He was looking for a refund of $111,246.

These counts also come with a maximum fine of $250,000.

The remaining charges of one count for solicitation of murder and one count for use of interstate commerce with intent to commit murder for hire are expected to be dismissed.

At his sentencing, which is scheduled for December 8^th, Bachner will obviously not be getting any Husband of the Year awards.