Man arrested in Florida after threatening Missouri governor, family on Facebook
A St. Charles, Florida, man is facing stalking and harassment charges after he allegedly made threatening Facebook posts aimed at Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe and members of his family.
Daniel Mertz, 42, faces one count each of first-degree stalking and first-degree harassment, according to a Jackson County court document.
On Dec.16, the Missouri State Highway Patrol was notified of the statements made online, according to a press release from MSHP spokesperson Capt. Scott White.
Between Dec. 10 and Dec. 18, Mertz made eight posts on Facebook of a threatening nature toward Missouri elected officials, according to the press release. In the posts, Mertz alleges Kehoe’s “associates” attempted to kill his livestock.
In the posts, Mertz appears to say he would like to kill Kehoe’s family.
“I would have snuck up on your families home and slayed you all with my bare hands..but I promised a veteran I would not get violent, and you sir are about to see just how hard gods vengeance hits back [praying hands emoji] Use your intellectual capabilities to determine what happens next and prepare yourself for just that B****,” one of the posts said.
Another threatened to hit family members with a baseball bat and threatened to cut family members’ throats.
A nationwide warrant was issued for Mertz’s arrest Dec. 19, White said. Mertz was located in Daytona Beach, Florida, at 5 p.m. that day.
He is currently being held in the Volusia County Jail without bond, White said. The extradition process has begun to transport White to Missouri.
