KINGWOOD, W.Va. – A Kingwood resident is facing a charge of terrorist threats after an investigation into a bomb threat at the Preston County Courthouse on Friday, September 22.
On Friday, workers in the Preston County Circuit Clerk’s Office got a call around 9 a.m. from a man later identified as Douglas Close, 59, saying there was a bomb in the courthouse that was going to explode in the next few minutes.
As a result, the building was evacuated and shut down for the day.
After the building was cleared, a voicemail was left around 8:20 a.m. at Preston County Magistrate Court saying, “Judge Shaffer, you and all the other crooked bastards are going to see what it’s like to lose a loved one today whenever this bomb goes off in that building.”
Detectives used cell phone carrier information, IP addresses, and an email address to identify Close as a suspect.
Later, detectives learned a female associate of Close had a hearing at the courthouse on the day of the incident.
Close has been charged with terrorist threats and is being held at Tygart Valley Regional Jail in lieu of a $500,000 bond.