The prosecution buttressed its argument that Womack maliciously intended to cause harm by showing how Womack's letters were infused with specific locations and incidents.

"He made the letters serious by incorporating real events" Gemma said, "details of bodies buried in real places, specific instructions to leave money in specific places--[thus making people] believe he is deranged and dangerous, and forcing them to act against their will."

But defense lawyer Homans argued that Womack's letters were so far removed from the reality of Womack's life that "a reasonable person would have a difficult time believing that he had intended to [follow through with his threat to] extort money, hurt people or make people act against their will."

Homans cited the fact that Womack never picked up his ransom money--although FBI agents planted it in obscure locations in Widener, as requested--as further evidence that Womack was merely trying to cause a disturbance and not intending to extort funds or cause violence.

Although Womack has made comments such as, "I won't stop [my assault against the system] until the voices tell me to stop," Homans' said Womack did not plead insanity in the case because a psychiatrist diagnosed him with a severe personality disorder, not a psychotic disorder.

The jury was instructed, however, that it could consider the possibility of mental imbalance when coming to its decision.

The jury's decision will culminate a four-year investigation conducted by Harvard and Northeastern police forces and the FBI.

"It was a very high-profile case, and good basic police work went into resolving it," said Harvard Sgt. Kathleen M. Stanford. "I know we have the right man, and now it is up to the jury to find [him guilty]." Stanford and Lt. John Rooney spearheaded the Harvard police force's effort to apprehend the Slasher.

Associate Librarian of Harvard College Lawrence E. Dowler said Womack's actions have served as a "wake-up call" and said the library has strengthened security as a result.

Greer Gillman, an expert witness who worked for the preservation of books at Widener during the period of the slashings, said she has spent hundreds of hours identifying Harvard's decimated volumes.

"It was a wonderful intellectual puzzle but horrific to realize the extent of the damage to the collection," Gillman said. "We'll be finding mutilated books for decades.