America's North Shore Journal

WGRZ Channel 2

Sources from within the law enforcement community tell Channel 2 News that federal authorities are “not excited” about what they found while searching the home of Dr. Kenneth Berry in the Village of Wellsville as well as his parents summer home in New Jersey.

The information does not give a concrete idea of what investigators found (or did not find) but it strongly reinforces what Channel 2 News has been hearing since the searches last Thursday — that Dr. Berry is, by no means, a prime suspect in the deadly anthrax attacks in the fall of 2001.

Times Herald

There are indications that Dr. Berry did things somewhat differently. His primary residence is Wellsville yet he has not had privileges at Jones Memorial Hospital since 2001 ‘ he has commuted to work at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in McKeesport, Pa. His past includes a criminal forgery case in which he pleaded to a lesser charge and there is a hint of self-promotion in materials touting his background as an expert in responding to large-scale medical emergencies, such as a biological attack.

Nevertheless, assuming we are still operating under the premise that all are innocent until proven guilty, one could question the treatment he and his family received at the hands of federal authorities the past few days. Rather than quietly search the properties, agents swooped into Wellsville and created a public spectacle, a spectacle that only an idiot wouldn’t have been able to anticipate.

If investigators had anything solid on Dr. Berry or anyone else in relation to the anthrax letters, one assumes they would have been charged. So far, all we have is a heavy-handed display which could be interpreted by some as cheap theatrics.

Hornell Evening Tribune

Helms does not see how Berry can go back to work at any hospital or work in his chosen field of counter terrorism.

“The FBI owes him an apology, big-time,” said Helms. “They harmed him and it looks like they harmed his family. I like both the agents who are primaries in this area – they also questioned me, because I am a webmaster for Preempt.org.” Helms said the web site has not been updated in a while. Not many people in Wellsville have said they were close friends with Berry, and many neighbors really didn’t know him. But Helms said that is not unusual.

“He worked at the hospital, he worked in counter terrorism. He didn’t have time to make a lot of friends, but the ones he did make are very loyal,” said Helms. “You won’t find a lot of (people who were) friends with Ken Berry … and ones he work with call him an S.O.B., but they call me that, too! Anyone who has anyone who worked for someone will have something bad said about them.”

Helms said Berry cold not be tied to mailing out anthrax letters in 2001. “Want a practical reason? He was getting ready to get married!” Helms says emphatically.

Helms also defends Berry’s character. “I think they have damaged his reputation to the point the United States has lost a wonderful asset,” said Helms. “He was a true American asset, if not a national treasure. “He’s a little unusual but most brilliant people are different. And he’s different,” Helms continued. “You get underneath that and he’s got a heart the size of Texas for an American.”