**Man Accused of Threatening to Kill Presidential Candidates Found Dead During Verdict**
In a dramatic turn of events, Tyler Anderson, a 30-year-old man from Dover, New Hampshire, who was on trial for allegedly threatening the lives of several presidential candidates, was found dead while the jury was deliberating his verdict. The discovery was made on Wednesday evening, according to court filings released on Thursday.
The trial against Anderson began on Monday, and the jury started deliberations on Tuesday. However, Anderson failed to appear in court, prompting a search by local authorities. Concord police, with assistance from the FBI, located Anderson’s vehicle in a parking garage at Concord Hospital around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday. A strong chemical odor emanated from the car, leading officers to call in a hazmat team. Anderson’s body was subsequently found inside the vehicle, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. No weapons were discovered, and Deputy Chief John Thomas of the Concord police stated that no foul play is suspected at this time.
Anderson had been indicted by a federal grand jury in December on three counts of sending threats using interstate commerce. Each charge carried a potential sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The U.S. Attorney’s office has since moved to dismiss the indictment following Anderson’s death.
The U.S. Attorney’s office did not disclose the names of the targeted candidates. However, when Anderson was initially arrested, a spokesperson for Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy confirmed that threatening texts had been directed at his campaign. Anderson admitted to the FBI that he had sent similar threatening messages to multiple other campaigns.
Court documents revealed that Anderson had received a text message from Ramaswamy’s campaign about a breakfast event in Portsmouth. In response, Anderson sent two threatening texts: one threatening to shoot the candidate in the head and another threatening to kill everyone at the event and desecrate their corpses. Similar threats were sent to two other candidates on November 22 and December 6. One of these messages was directed at Republican Chris Christie, who had been holding “Tell it Like It Is Town Halls.” A spokesperson for Christie’s campaign expressed gratitude to law enforcement for addressing the threats.
Anderson was arrested on December 9 and released on December 14 under several conditions set by a federal judge. These conditions included avoiding contact with any presidential candidate or their campaigns and adhering to prescribed mental health treatments and medications.
The trial, which began last week, saw jurors deliberating on Tuesday. They informed the judge that they had reached a unanimous verdict on one count but were unable to reach a consensus on the other charges. Deliberations were postponed on Wednesday due to unspecified reasons, and jurors were scheduled to resume on Thursday. However, the proceedings were halted when prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the case following the news of Anderson’s death.
The FBI had initiated a search for Anderson on Wednesday amid concerns that he might be armed and had threatened to harm himself. Concord police were notified and began searching the city, eventually locating Anderson’s vehicle. The FBI was also present at the scene on Wednesday night.
Deputy Chief John Thomas stated, “It’s still under investigation at this time. We don’t think there’s any foul play, but at this time, I can’t put too much more out on it because it’s still under investigation.”
The U.S. Department of Justice refrained from naming the victims, citing respect for their privacy and obligations under the Crime Victims Rights Act.
Anderson’s death brings a tragic end to a case that had significant implications for the safety and security of political candidates. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in addressing threats against public figures, particularly in the highly charged atmosphere of a presidential campaign.
As the investigation continues, questions remain about the circumstances leading to Anderson’s death and the broader implications for political security. The case has highlighted the importance of vigilance and swift action in responding to threats against public figures, ensuring that such incidents are addressed promptly and effectively to safeguard the democratic process.
Source: Associated Press, WMUR News 9
