Ricin-exposed man out of coma

by Amy Judd | March 14, 2008 at 05:37 pm

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The man who was exposed to ricin in a Vegas hotel room has finally woken up, and is now being questioned by authorities over the incident.
Roger Bergendorff, 57, has been in hospital since February 14, after he complained of breathing difficulties.
Hopefully him waking up will provide some answers to some pressing questions in the case, but he is still poorly from his exposure to the potentially deadly toxin.

He is listed in critical condition, said Naomi Jones, spokeswoman for Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas.

Bergendorff, an artist who neighbors said had lived in his cousin's basement before moving to Las Vegas, was exposed to the poison in a Las Vegas extended-stay hotel, a law enforcement official said.

The Riverton, Utah, home where Bergendorff previously lived belongs to Thomas Tholen, who along with his wife and daughter tested negative for ricin, according to authorities. That home and three storage areas in nearby West Jordan, Utah, were searched for ricin earlier this month and declared safe by authorities.

A relative who went to Bergendorff's hotel room after he was sent to the hospital found the substance and alerted police February 27.