The letters, one of which was first seen on ABC News, contained anti-gun control messages and threatening language. According to the indictment, the note to President Obama read in part:
“You will have to kill me and my family before you get my guns. Anyone wants to come to my house will get shot in the face… I will take care of this myself and make sure you wont be runnin this country in the ground any further. What’s in this letter is nothing compared to what ive got in store for you mr president [sic].”
The letters were laced with the poison ricin, but the U.S. Postal Service said it was in such low quantities that it did not pose a health threat. Other than the gun control lobbyist, none of the intended recipients came in contact with the letters.
Richardson originally called the FBI after the letters were discovered and claimed her husband, Nathaniel Richardson, was the one that sent the letters, according to court documents. Later, authorities said it looked like Shannon had framed her husband.