A dispute involving a child took a frightening turn when a woman reported that a man had threatened to kill her and put her in the gutter.
The woman contacted the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office after receiving what she described as threatening messages. She told deputies the threats were connected to an ongoing disagreement involving a child and the child’s father.
According to the sheriff’s report, the woman said the man had been sending messages to her and her husband. She also reported that he had been contacting other people and making statements about the dispute.
The woman told deputies the man had threatened to kill her and put her in the gutter. She said she was frightened by the messages and wanted the situation documented.
Threats Reportedly Escalate
The woman explained that the disagreement involved the man’s efforts to see a child and ongoing tension between the adults.
She told deputies the man had become increasingly hostile and that his messages were becoming more threatening.
The deputy reviewed information provided by the woman and documented her account of the alleged threats.
The report does not indicate that anyone was arrested or that criminal charges were filed.
When Threatening Messages Become a Police Matter
Arguments over children can become especially emotional, but threats of violence are a separate issue from disagreements about custody or visitation.
Ohio law can treat certain threats as criminal offenses, depending on what was communicated, the circumstances and whether the conduct meets the requirements of the applicable law.
People receiving threatening messages should preserve the original texts, voicemails or social media communications rather than deleting them. Screenshots can also help document what was said, when it was sent and who sent it.
If a threat appears immediate or someone is in danger, call 911.
In this case, deputies documented the woman’s allegations, but the available report does not establish whether further investigative or court action followed.