
Jeffrey Don DetrixheThe Texas man is accused of trying to sell cyanide. On NewsOK: Read the affidavit against him.
What is cyanide?
•It is a compound used in electroplating, metallurgy, organic chemicals production, photographic developing, manufacturing of plastics, fumigation of ships and some mining processes.
How can you be exposed to it?
•Breathing air, drinking water, touching soil or eating foods that contain cyanide.
•Smoking cigarettes and breathing smoke-filled air during fires are major sources of cyanide exposure.
What is the possible health risk?
•Exposure to high levels of cyanide for a short time harms the brain and heart and can even cause coma and death.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
What's next?
Kathy Colvin, press officer for the Northern District of Texas U.S. Attorney's office, said prosecutors will present the case against Jeffrey Don Detrixhe to a grand jury within the next 30 days.
Mark White of the FBI's Dallas office said one of the elements of the investigation is going to be tracing the source of the cyanide, which can be used in manufacturing, extracting gold alloy and pest extermination.
"The question is going to be how did they get it, because sodium cyanide is used in various things,” White said.