A man who formerly served as a city judge in Tennessee was arrested in Florida after police said he sent his wife a text in which he threatened to kill her and her friend.

John Cris Helton, 63, was arrested on Sept. 28 in his hometown of Panama City Beach, Florida after being charged with making a written threat to kill or do bodily harm. According to a criminal complaint reviewed by Law&Crime, Helton allegedly sent a text to his wife and her friend at midnight the same day that included a photo of a "large black and silver kitchen knife." Along with the photo was a message that read, "I take that back I will kill both of you first."

Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.

Police said in

See Full Page