The Daily Courier (Prescott, AZ) has announced that one of its co-owners, Joseph Soldwedel, age 65, is the victim of a poisoning involving thallium, lithium, aluminum, barium and zinc. According to Richard Haddad, news director for Western News & Info, Inc., the parent company of The Daily Courier, Soldwedel sought medical treatment and forensic laboratory testing after experiencing “prolonged, unexplained illness.”
“The test findings are highly suggestive, but not confirmatory, of an intentional poisoning with an intent to kill,” said Dr. Ernest P. Chiodo, one of the nation’s leading experts in forensic toxicology who reviewed Soldwedel’s test results, in Haddad’s report.
“Reviewing lab results from hair and fingernail samples which provide approximate dates of ingestion, Dr. Chiodo and other medical experts concluded that from approximately Nov. 29, 2016 through Dec. 27, 2016 the thallium levels in Soldwedel’s body were at 77 ug/kg (microgram per kilogram of a person’s body weight). This is more than 15 times higher than reference level, meaning normal levels for an average person in a particular living and working environment. Additional samples from February to March 2017 confirmed the presence of thallium at abnormal levels,” reported Haddad.
According to Haddad’s report, “Doctors concluded that Soldwedel, 65, takes no medications that contain these heavy metals or other toxins, and had no known environmental or occupational exposures to thallium. Water tests conducted at Soldwedel’s places of residence showed no trace of toxic chemicals.”
“While the newspaper owner said he has a good idea of who might be behind the possible deliberate poisonings, he does not want to make that information public until police and the county attorney have finished their review and potential charges have been filed or arrests made,” reported Haddad. “He did say that his son, daughter and lone sibling [sister] are in no way involved.”
Dr. Chiodo “strongly urged an immediate investigation by law enforcement officials concerning sources of intentional poisoning of Mr. Soldwedel with thallium.”