Photo: Rowland Leroy Mitchell
A Midway man charged with making threats to his estranged wife appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday.
The wife has reported to deputies 55-year-old Rowland Leroy Mitchell Jr. had told her he intended to screw the doors to her residence shut and introduce various pesticides into the house through the air conditioning system.
He is also alleged to have threatened to burn down the couple’s house with the wife inside the structure.
In one message, Mitchell is reported to have called himself “your friendly wife exterminator.”
According to the investigative report, Mitchell also sent a picture of various items, including pesticide foggers and a package of what appeared to be clothesline to his estranged wife.
The victim was quoted as saying she felt Mitchell’s threats were credible, and they had put her in fear of her life.
The probable cause affidavit notes the cellphone number used to communicate the messages belonged to Mitchell.
Members of the family have filed affidavits outlining their concern with Mitchell’s behavior and the danger he could pose to them and others.
Information in the affidavits alleges Mitchell hired a company to sweep his home and business for “devices” at a cost of almost $7,500 over the protest of family members.
The affidavits also allege Mitchell is a diagnosed schizophrenic with paranoid delusions. His behavior is described as basically normal when he is on his medications, but not taking them results in his “mental health quickly deteriorating.”
Family members allege in their affidavits he is using methamphetamine and has often attempted to force his estranged wife to take the drug, as well.
Mitchell has also posted bizarre statements on the Facebook page for his business. The latest posting was a request “for a lawyer to sue another lawyer.”
When he picked up the new charges, Mitchell was on probation for possessing drugs and drug paraphernalia.
A petition to revoke his probation on the earlier drug-related charge was filed based on his new case.
On Thursday, Circuit Judge John Putman set a revocation hearing for next month.
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