Suicidal Ex Made Deadly Threats on Facebook: Police

An Allentown man who took a breakup with his girlfriend so hard he tried twice to commit suicide is accused of making multiple threats against her on his Facebook page, according to Bethlehem police.

David Howell, 44, of 240 N. Front St., was charged with making terroristic threats and harassment for strongly suggesting through Facebook posts that he had intentions of doing harm to her and her children, according to the arrest affidavit.

The warrant also says Howell sent an email to his victim’s place of employment, which got her fired.

“Just because I am so quiet doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look over your shoulder for me. I will come in the night when you least expect me to exact my revenge,” was one Facebook post police quoted on an affidavit of probable cause.

Another post: “Kill me or kill her then kill me. We don’t have much more time. The feeling will hit me and it will happen.”

On another occasion he threatened to “strike you at your core and hurt the youngest part of you,” which the victim interpreted as a threat to hurt her two children, police said.

Howell and his 37-year-old victim broke up in August, the arrest warrant says. He moved out of the house they shared on Center Street and twice attempted suicide.

According to the arrest affidavit:

• On Feb. 4, Howell told the victim via text message that he was going to send pictures to her job. He then sent an email to her job that got her fired.
• On Feb. 5, Howell texted the victim telling her he wants to be with her again.
• On. Feb. 6, Howell told the victim to check his Facebook page. There were numerous photos of her on the page, which her later removed. He posted a links to two documentaries about serial killers.
• The victim reported the harassment to Bethlehem police, who follow up with a telephone call to Howell telling him to stop making contact with the victim.
• On Feb. 7, the victim obtained a Protection of Abuse Order from Northampton County.
• In the days since then, numerous threatening posts continued to be made on Howell’s Facebook page.

Howell was taken into custody on Thursday, Valentine’s Day, and arraigned before night duty District Judge James Narlesky before being committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail.