A 36-year-old man is facing a federal criminal charge after he allegedly threatened to shoot and kill a Hawaii congressional delegation staff member and their family on Maui.
Ryan Holden Baxter, a U.S. Navy veteran, was arrested in Colorado after he allegedly sent a series of texts and left voice messages threatening to shoot the staff member and their spouse.
Baxter also allegedly threatened to shoot and kill a state Child Welfare Services employee and his daughter’s mother.
Baxter is facing a single charge of making interstate threats, according to a 10-page criminal complaint filed under seal Aug. 29. Baxter is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rom A. Trader.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren W.K. Ching is prosecuting the case.
“Victim 1 is the spouse of a U.S. Congressperson’s staff,” according to an affidavit authored by a special agent with the U.S. Capitol Police. The agent is assigned to the USCP’s Investigations Division, Threat Assessment Section.
The staff member is referred to as “Victim 2” by federal prosecutors.
On June 2 about 10:39 a.m. Baxter, who is Victim 1’s nephew, allegedly left a voicemail threat.
The Hawaii congressional delegation staffer reported the threat to USCP that same day.
The threat opened with a racist, sexist slur, and continued “… I am sending you a death threat. Okay, this is a death threat. I sent you one in the text. I wanted to make sure you got it. I’m sending a voicemail. Okay, I’m planning on coming to (Maui).I know exactly where you live. I’m gonna break in and f———g murder you and your wife. Okay, that’s my plan…”
Baxter allegedly blamed the family for the loss of custody of his daughter on Hawaii island, the staff member and their spouse told the U.S. Capitol Police.
Baxter allegedly also left a long, racist, sexist, and misogynistic threat on the congressional staff member’s phone. It included “the threat that “You’re getting shot in the f———g head. I’m murdering you. Mark my words.”
Both the staff member and their spouse were in Hawaii at the time they got Baxter’s threats.
Victim 1 was “really concerned” after hearing the threats and believed Baxter may be on Maui because Baxter’s family owns property on Maui.
In response to the threat, “Victim 1 purchased a firearm for protection, and took a firearms training class,” according to federal court records. Victim 1 believed Baxter was capable of following through because of the weapons training he received in the Navy. Baxter allegedly posted photos of himself on social media with a rifle.
The congressional staffer was “shocked” and “incredibly worried” about his family’s life.
On April 28, Baxter allegedly threatened an employee of the state’s Child Welfare Services.
“Hey (employee of Hawaii Child and Welfare Services), you’ve got a certified death threat, okay? I’m gonna find you and f———g shove a gun down your throat and shoot you in the f———g face! Okay? You got that fat (employee of Hawaii Child and Welfare Services)? I’m planning on killing you and murdering you …”
Baxter allegedly followed the phone threat up with a text threatening to kill the state employee.
Based on the threats directed toward the employee, an arrest warrant was approved by a Hawaii District Court judge.
Officers with the Hawaii Police Department tried to arrest Baxter at his Hawaii island home but he allegedly “retreated into his residence when approached and advised law enforcement that he would turn himself in” at the Hilo police station the next day.
Baxter did not turn himself in the next day and “allegedly fled to the continent.”
Baxter was arrested in California in May 2017 for threatening to shoot his girlfriend in the head with his gun.
“His girlfriend locked herself and their daughter in the bathroom of their Placerville residence,” according to federal court records.
On July 11, an attorney involved in a child custody matter involving Baxter’s daughter reported to Placerville Police Department officers that Baxter called his client and threatened her.
“I am going to kill you,” Baxter allegedly said in the voicemail.
Baxter also contacted the Placerville police to ask for his guns back after they were confiscated in connection with the 2017 arrest.
A July 23 review of Baxter’s Facebook account linked to the phone number he used to threaten to kill people showed “multiple images and videos of Baxter with firearms.”
Baxter’s ex-wife told police he “possessed multiple firearms during their relationship.”
Source: The Garden Island