Man accused of threatening to kill East Texas officials arrested

TYLER, Texas — Documents allege a Flint man said on his podcast he planned to kill Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith and two East Texas prosecutors.

Gary Lynn Treadwell, 64, was arrested May 21 on three counts of obstruction or retaliation. He was transferred May 31 to the Gregg County Jail, where he remains on bail totaling $750,000.

According to an arrest affidavit, Treadwell made statements on his podcast on May 19 saying he was going to kill Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith, Smith County Prosecutor Jacob Putman and Smith County Prosecutor Henderson, Jenny Palmer. The podcast was broadcast from his home.

An investigator listened to the podcast and found that Treadwell said, “Put them in a room and he would kill them,” referring to Smith, Putman and Palmer. In a recording, Treadwell said a vacation was coming up and the three officials would be together. He said he would be their executioner, according to the document.

Treadwell was overheard saying that when the three are together, he will take care of them. He also said he planned to set a trap for them, according to the affidavit.

His bond conditions state that he cannot come within 500 feet of Putman, Smith or Palmer or their families, residences and schools or businesses where they are located. Treadwell is also not authorized to communicate in writing by telephone, directly or indirectly, with officials or their families.