The deceptive letters of a killer and the science of anthrax protection

Health · Published 7 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1978, a series of taunting letters attempted to manipulate police during a murder investigation. While such criminal diversions demand forensic scrutiny, modern public health focuses on preventing biological threats, such as Bacillus anthracis, through sophisticated vaccination protocols and emergency preparedness planning.

The case of William Henry Hance, an American soldier convicted of murdering three women near Fort Benning between 1977 and 1978, highlights the complexity of criminal investigations. Hance utilized a hoax involving a fictitious group called the 'Forces of Evil' to divert law enforcement attention. These letters and phone calls falsely claimed that a black woman was being held hostage, even making a $10,000 ransom demand, while the victim had actually been deceased for weeks. Hance was a quiet, social individual with an estimated IQ between 75 and 79. He was eventually executed in the electric chair after spending fifteen years on death row in Georgia.

While criminal investigations deal with human deception, public health officials manage biological deception and threats through rigorous immunization strategies. For instance, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) provides specific guidance for the use of the anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA). This vaccine is used for both preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) to protect against Bacillus anthracis spores.

Modern preparedness involves managing vaccine supplies during large-scale emergencies. Current recommendations suggest that if an anthrax vaccine supply is insufficient during a mass casualty event, dose-sparing regimens can be used to extend the available supply. Furthermore, for individuals not at high risk who have completed an initial 3-dose priming and 2-dose booster series, a booster dose of AVA can now be administered every 3 years instead of annually to maintain protection.

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