Who is Paul Kevin Curtis? Elvis impersonator accused of sending ricin letters
PAUL Kevin Curtis was initially arrested in connection with letters containing ricin being sent to Barack Obama and US officials.
But he was allegedly framed by James Everett Dutschke because of a feud over conspiracy newsletters and Mensa membership — here’s what we know.
Who is Paul Kevin Curtis?
Paul Kevin Curtis is a former janitor and Elvis impersonator from Tupelo, Mississippi.
In April 2013, he was wrongly accused of sending ricin-laced letters to then-President Barack Obama, Senator Roger Wicker and Judge Sadie Holland.
Paul has earned a living impersonating The King and a host of other famous singers.
Ricin letters incident
The case against Curtis began when he was arrested on April 17, 2013, on suspicion of mailing the poisonous letters, which were intercepted at the US Capitol’s off-site mail facility in Washington, D.C.
However, after searching his home in Corinth, federal investigators found no evidence of ricin production or any indication that Curtis knew how to make the deadly toxin.
As a result, charges against Curtis were dropped on April 23, 2013, and he was released from jail.
Conspiracy theories and small-town feuds
Curtis’ arrest and subsequent exoneration revealed a bizarre tale of small-town feuds and conspiracy theories.
The 45-year-old impersonator had been working on an unpublished book alleging a body-part black market conspiracy at a local hospital.
This conspiracy theory became a central part of Curtis’ life and led to a series of events ultimately resulting in his wrongful arrest.
He also had a feud with the true culprit James Everett Dutschke.
James Everett Dutschke
The true perpetrator of the ricin letters was Dutschke, a martial arts instructor from Tupelo, Mississippi.
Paul Kevin Curtis' feud with James Everett Dutschke
Their relationship began in 2005 when Dutschke worked for Curtis' brother Jack at an insurance office. Initially friendly, it soured over time due to several factors:
- Newsletter dispute: Dutschke refused to publish Curtis’ allegations about body-part trafficking in a newsletter he produced.
- Physical confrontation: The two had a physical altercation at a Tupelo restaurant.
- Online stalking accusations: Curtis became convinced that Dutschke was stalking him online.
- Mensa membership controversy: Curtis claimed on Facebook to be a Mensa member, which angered Dutschke, an actual Mensa member. Dutschke threatened to sue Curtis for fraud over this false claim.
- Mutual accusations: Their feud centered around “who is the biggest liar and is putting false information on their website,” according to Curtis’ lawyer.
This long-standing rivalry ultimately escalated to the point where Dutschke allegedly framed Curtis by sending the ricin-laced letters to Obama and the other officials, leading to Curtis’ initial arrest.
Dutschke and Curtis had a long-standing feud that began in 2005 when they met while working at an insurance office.
Their relationship deteriorated over time, involving online stalking accusations and a physical confrontation in a restaurant.
Arrest and sentencing
Dutschke was arrested on April 27, 2013, just days after Curtis was released.
He initially pleaded guilty to charges related to the ricin letters but later attempted to withdraw his plea, claiming he was only guilty of using castor beans to make a harmless fertilizer.
Ultimately, Dutschke was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.
The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga
The case of the ricin letters is explored in the three-part true crime documentary The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga.
Netflix’s description of the show reads: “In this bizarre true-crime tale, an Elvis impersonator’s conspiracy theory sets off a feud that spirals into an attempted presidential assassination.”
The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga drops on Netflix on December 11, 2024.