FBI investigates cyberthreats in Ohio rape case
STEUBENVILLE, Ohio (AP) – The FBI is investigating cyber threats in an eastern Ohio city that include a death threat received by the local sheriff and an email that apparently shut down the police chief’s computer.
The threats are part of a series of online messages that have targeted individuals and authorities in Steubenville amid increased attention over two high school football players who are facing rape charges.
Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla said Wednesday he’d provided the FBI a copy of an anonymous Facebook post in which he was threatened with murder and his family threatened with harm.
Steubenville police Chief William McCafferty said he gave the FBI an email that he had opened Wednesday morning, which then disabled his computer.
FBI spokesman Todd Lindgren said he could not immediately comment.