Left: Jolene Harms. Right: Jonathan Harms (Ada County Sheriff”s Office).
A couple from Idaho has been arrested after they allegedly distributed a 277-page “kill list” that included names of individuals, such as police officers and their families, whom they intended to kill.
Court records reveal Jonathan Harms, 43, and his 39-year-old wife, Jolene Harms, are facing a total of 120 criminal charges. These charges include 20 counts each of first-degree stalking, witness intimidation in a criminal case, and witness intimidation in a civil matter. The Boise police began investigating in July following reports of the Harms violating protection orders. Those protected alleged receiving a “large document containing threatening language.”
Authorities state that the document, which allegedly expressed an intention to “go, hunt, kill,” was distributed to people both locally and nationwide. Jonathan Harms was initially arrested on two counts of stalking, with further investigation revealing that Jolene Harms had also threatened a local police officer and their family.
Initially, Jolene Harms faced charges of misdemeanor telecommunication harassment. According to the Idaho Statesman, she warned the police officer’s wife that if her husband did not engage with Jonathan Harms, their “whole family was going to die” and their children would be “slaughtered,” as reported by the police.
“Seriously, I’m going to kill your children,” she allegedly texted the cop’s wife.
Jolene Harms reportedly pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charges and was sentenced to a year probation.
Prosecutors assert that the couple continued discussing their supposed kill list even while Jonathan Harms was jailed on the initial charges. Local NBC affiliate KTVB notes that many individuals on the list belong to a Boise-area church from which the Harms were excommunicated. The church members were “frankly terrified” given that authorities discovered a significant stockpile of weapons and ammunition at the Harms’ residence.
Jonathan Harms also allegedly claimed to hold the title “crown prince of heaven.” Police report that his wife continued sending menacing messages via social media from August 7 until Wednesday.
Both suspects remain in the Ada County Jail on a $15 million bond.
