Spotlight: Jeremiah Crowell & Scott Tiffany
Aftermath: Hunt for the Anthrax Killer, the new eight-part podcast from Wolf Entertainment, tells the shocking inside story of the high-stakes hunt for the Anthrax killer — one of the largest and most confounding FBI investigations in history.
Hosted, executive produced, and co-written by Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker Jeremiah Crowell, executive produced and co-written by Scott Tiffany, and executive produced by Dick Wolf and Elliot Wolf, the series gives listeners unprecedented access to declassified materials and firsthand accounts, revealing how the Anthrax attacks reshaped America — and its hidden impact today.
We talked with Jeremiah and Scott about the origins of the podcast, what to expect this season, and what we can learn from this momentous case.
Q: Where did the idea for Aftermath originate?
Scott Tiffany: Way back in 2006, Jeremiah and I were working on a documentary series about underwater detectives, and we heard about this intense investigation that FBI crime divers had done in some icy lakes and we wanted to know more. The FBI divers couldn’t tell us much at the time, but we were hooked. We finally figured out it was Anthrax, but it was all top secret. So we kept following up on the story over the years and we finally got clearance to talk about the case. That project led to the creation of our production company, Dig Studios, which led to this podcast.
Q: You were able to get unprecedented access to Agent Scott Decker, who hunted the Anthrax killer for 7 years. What was it like to work with him on this project?
Jeremiah Crowell: Scott Decker was one of the only agents who was on the case from very near the beginning to the very end. He was a lead investigator throughout and when we read his book, “Recounting the Anthrax Attacks: Terror, the Amerithrax Task Force, and the Evolution of Forensics in the FBI,” we knew we had to have him.
Scott: He is a rare combination: an everyday guy who happens to be brilliant in genetics. He’s one of the most patient, persevering and methodical people I’ve ever met. His book is an encyclopedia of information and gives a rare, first-person look into one of the FBI’s biggest cases ever.
Q: Why is this story important to tell now?
Jeremiah: In the same way Anthrax showed up in seemingly innocuous envelopes – invisible until it greatly affects your life – this story largely disappeared but has impacted our society in surprising ways. It’s an important story to tell because we’re living in an age that is arguably more dangerous in terms of biosecurity than it was in 2001. With advancements in genetics, the falling price of lab technology, and now AI, the idea that someone might make a home version of anthrax – or another toxin – is more viable than ever.
Scott: To me, one of the most compelling pieces of this story is what it reveals about human nature and our inability, or sometimes refusal, to learn from the past. At the time of the attacks, one of the news reporters in the story noted, we don’t get anything done until we have a crisis. Now we have a crisis.” That’s a tough, but important, lesson to learn. I see in my own life and in history an ongoing battle between panic and complacency when it comes to things that matter. When everything is going great, it’s easy to let your guard down and fall into patterns that don’t prepare us for the future. This story illustrates why that happens and how we can stop it.
Q: Can you give us any sneak peeks as far as what fans can expect to hear in the remaining episodes?
Jeremiah: Get ready for a crazy ride from start to finish! This story is full of surprising twists, false suspects, and ultimately, betrayal. I can tell you that when we started researching this story, we did not expect to find so much within it, including ice divers, a team of bloodhounds, and the facts that kick started a war.
Q: What is your favorite episode of Aftermath?
Jeremiah: I’d have to say Episode 2, “Martha’s Not Crazy.” In that one we feel the depths of what this investigation felt like for the FBI. They and the nation were in a kind of free fall just watching these attacks unfold, but they hold onto hope that they’ll be able to find something, and they ultimately climb their way out.
Scott: I’m going with Episode 3, “Anthrax This!” I think this is the point where everyone realizes this is a much bigger problem than we ever imagined. In the face of that, so many key agencies unite in a common effort to stop or at least slow down the mayhem, which I found inspiring.
Listen to Aftermath: The Hunt For The Anthrax Killer here.
