Mitchell Man Jailed for Intimidation After Alleged Death Threats Over 30-Year-Old Rumor

A Mitchell man faces a criminal charge of intimidation after he reportedly sent a series of terrifying messages threatening to kill his wife and another man over an alleged infidelity rumor dating back three decades.

John E. Porter, 61, was arrested on Wednesday evening, June 17, 2026, by the Mitchell Police Department.

The Facebook Messages and Out-of-County Search

The investigation began at approximately 5:40 p.m. when Porter's wife arrived at the Mitchell Police station to report active threats.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Porter had recently heard a rumor alleging that his wife had been unfaithful to him 30 years prior. Porter began relentlessly messaging his wife via Facebook Messenger to force a confession. When she stopped responding, the messages grew progressively more violent.

Porter allegedly stated he was going to kill the male subject of the rumor and demanded his wife accompany him to the man's residence in neighboring Orange County. When she refused, Porter reportedly drove to the location alone, later messaging his wife, "no body will answer door" and "I was going to kill him no answer door".

Other explicit messages recovered by law enforcement included:

• "I'm going to kill him then u"
• "One of us ain't walking away"
• "I've got my gun back today so let's go take care of these"
• "Don't make me kill him"

Recognizing an active threat, Mitchell officers requested assistance from authorities in Orange County to locate Porter's vehicle. Shortly after the initial report was filed, the victim notified police that Porter had returned to their home at 302 E. 3rd Street in Mitchell.

Confrontation and De-escalation

Sergeant Garrett Jacobs responded to the residence, where Porter was immediately confrontational. Porter refused to speak with the officer, stating "there ain't shit going on" and claiming the dispute was "none of our business".

The situation briefly escalated when Porter assumed an aggressive posture, spreading his feet and balling his hands into fists. When asked if he intended to fight the officer, Porter reportedly replied, "yeah we're really gonna to do this".

Sgt. Jacobs successfully utilized de-escalation techniques, prompting Porter to relax and share his side of the story. Porter admitted he discovered the decades-old rumor and acknowledged driving to the Orange County residence with the explicit intention to "beat his ass". Porter then became fully cooperative, letting officers secure his dog and lock up his home before being placed in handcuffs.

Extreme Intoxication and Booking

During transport, Porter admitted he had been consuming alcohol. Officers pulled over near the intersection of Meridian Road and Doc Hamilton Road to administer a roadside Preliminary Breathalyzer Test (PBT), which registered an initial reading of 0.230% BAC and a secondary reading of 0.229% BAC.

Upon arrival at the booking facility, a third test administered by jail staff registered at 0.217% BAC. Due to his extreme level of intoxication, Porter had to be transported to the IU Health Bedford Emergency Room for formal medical clearance. Once cleared by medical staff, he was successfully remanded to the Lawrence County Jail.

Preliminary Charges: 🔹 Intimidation (Class A Misdemeanor)

Case Number: M26-00291Arresting Officer: Sergeant Garrett Jacobs, Mitchell PD

Disclaimer: All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.