In a shocking turn of events, a man serving a life sentence for kidnapping and other crimes in a Georgia prison has been accused of constructing two bombs and mailing them to a District of Columbia office building and a federal courthouse and building in Anchorage, Alaska. The accused, 55-year-old David Cassady, allegedly sent the explosive devices from his prison in Tattnall County on January 24, 2020, according to an indictment issued by a grand jury in U.S. District Court in Statesboro, Georgia.

The bomb destined for Washington, D.C. was addressed to the Bond Building, which houses the Department of Justice among other tenants. Thankfully, neither bomb detonated. Cassady now faces charges of making an unregistered destructive device, mailing a destructive device, and attempted malicious use of an explosive.

The indictment alleges that Cassady had the intent to "maliciously damage or destroy, by means of fire or explosive, a building owned or possessed by the United States" and created substantial risk of injury to people. U.S. Attorney Jill Steinberg, who is leading the prosecution, emphasized the importance of protecting personnel and facilities, stating, "We also will take action against inmates who seek to commit crimes and harm the public from behind bars."

Although the indictment reveals little information about how Cassady managed to construct and mail the bombs while incarcerated, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Corrections stated that he manipulated items he was authorized to possess to fashion makeshift explosive devices. Unfortunately, the charging document does not specify the size of the bombs or why Cassady chose the Department of Justice headquarters and the federal courthouse and building in Anchorage as his targets.

It is alarming to note that Cassady has a lengthy criminal record dating back to the late 1980s, including convictions for forgery. He has been serving his current prison sentence since 1993 after being found guilty of kidnapping, aggravated sodomy, impersonating an officer, and false imprisonment. Further charges were added in 2019, including terroristic threats and acts, false statements, gang participation, and conspiracy, while he was incarcerated in Tattnall County.

The Georgia Department of Corrections expressed gratitude for the support of federal partners in ensuring justice is served for Cassady's actions, which jeopardized the safe operations of their facilities and, most importantly, the safety of the public.

The case has raised questions regarding the considerable delay of over four years between the alleged mailing of the bombs and Cassady being charged. However, authorities have not provided any additional information on this matter beyond what is outlined in the indictment. The investigation continues as law enforcement officials seek to uncover the full extent of Cassady's actions and motives.

This disturbing incident serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by the criminal justice system in deterring and preventing criminal activity, even within the confines of prison walls. The focus now lies on ensuring justice is served and bolstering security measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.