Got a threatening letter

[Larry Kart]

This morning I got a letter that threatened me with grave bodily harm for an unnamed negative theater review of some unnamed local original show that I wrote for the Chicago Tribune some time between 1977 and 1988. The letter is perfectly lucid for the most part but also quite goofy at times — e.g. “So why would Larry Kart take exception to our show and write such mean things about it? Well, it turns out you knew one of our cast members. You didn’t know him well. You just knew of him. So you decided that since you have no talent and could never do what he did, you were going to savage our show.”

I have no idea to what show and review this person is referring, but in any case, after much more ranting, he/she concludes:

“And here’s the thing asshole. I know where you live and there’s going to be retribution. I don’t like bullies and you are a bully. I’m going to find a time to make sure I inflict the same level of pain onto you that you inflicted on several hard-working, talented young actors, writers, and performers. I’m going to kick your ass Larry Kart. You won’t see me coming. But one day, a man is going to be walking in your direction and before you know what hit you, you will be on the ground in pain. And then you’re going to get hit some more, until you are barely alive and in the hospital. I’ll be seeing you soon, you piece of shit!”

It’s signed “KC,” which also doesn’t ring a bell (assuming that those are in fact the letter writer’s initials).

My wife insisted that we go to the local police, which we did, but aside from dusting the letter for fingerprints, they say there’s nothing they can do. Even if by some miracle I could go through the Trib’s archives and found out what review that was, I don’t know what recourse I might have. Any thoughts?

I do know, as a friend has reminded me, that the person who wrote the letter already has committed a felony by writing it.

[JSngry]

FBI?

[jeffcrom]

No advice; just wanted to say that I hate this for you. Almost certainly sound and fury signifying nothing.

[Leeway]

Since it came through the mails, I would meet with the Postal Inspectors (not the Postal Inspector General). They might have a way of tracing the letter to at least the geographic point of origin. They also have sophisticated forensic tools to analyze the letter.

What strikes me as odd is that the play in question would have to be at least 25 years ago. That is a very very long time to hold a grudge. Why now? something must have happened now to cause a resurgence of ill will.

OK, in the meantime, you need to do what you can to protect yourself. Change your routines. get some pepper spray, be aware of your surroundings.

My feeling though is this poison pen letter is just meant to upset and frighten, and nothing more. Someone trying to settle scores by frightening others.

[xybert]

This truly sucks.

It's possible that it's a genuine random psycho, and i believe that you should take precautions (though 'don't let the terrorists win' etc), however i think that it's more likely to be someone you know either in real life or online, and they are 'just' maliciously trying to make your life harder with an empty (but potentially extremely destructive) threat. This paragraph here:

“So why would Larry Kart take exception to our show and write such mean things about it? Well, it turns out you knew one of our cast members. You didn’t know him well. You just knew of him. So you decided that since you have no talent and could never do what he did, you were going to savage our show.”

Whoever wrote that was writing fiction. It also feels forced that the 'gripe' relates to a theater review... this leads me to believe that it's someone that you've 'crossed' online but they don't want you to make any connection with that fact.

Apologies if i'm talking rubbish, but that's my take on it. Without going in to too much detail i do encounter a lot of written threats/bollocks in my professional life and i've gotten reasonably good at 'reading' things.

I sincerely hope that this is not a real threat and that it does not have the intended effect of troubling you too much.

EDIT: also, signing it off 'KC' = complete rubbish designed to throw you off and/or get you thinking.

Edited August 28, 2014 by xybert

[Larry Kart]

At first the sheer goofiness of the part that Xybert quoted left me inclined me to shrug this off, but I'm glad we went to the police. Thanks, Leeway, for the postal inspector idea.

Yes, the length of time since my apparent "offense" is weird -- don't know what to make of that. The idea that something in the present has set this person off seems likely. Have begun to go through electronic archives of all my old reviews (at least 5,000, maybe many more, most of them not of theater performances though). Nothing seems to fit so far, though I could be fairly dismissive or worse in my salad days.

[Spontooneous]

Oh, man. I've been threatened over music reviews a couple of times, but never to that degree. They all sobered up eventually.

There could be truth in Xybert's suggestion that the "theater review" part is fiction.

Assuming it really is someone offended by a long-ago review: Do you have contact with sources from your theater-critic days who might recognize the writing style, the psychological fingerprints?

I'd propose one other thing. Scan the letter, black out your personal info, and post the scans on some community websites. Someone might recognize the writer, or have letters from the same creep.

[7/4]

ditto on the postal inspector.

[Stefan Wood]

25 years later you get a threatening letter? Does the Chicago Tribune digitally archive their material? This person is nuts.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

That's bleedin' awful.

I'm surprised - but very pleased - that some of us have some expertise in stuff like this.

MG

[kh1958]

Mailing a threatening letter is a serious federal crime, punishable by up to five years in prison.

See 18. U.S.C. section 876©.

© Whoever knowingly so deposits or causes to be delivered as aforesaid, any communication with or without a name or designating mark subscribed thereto, addressed to any other person and containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of the addressee or of another, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. If such a communication is addressed to a United States judge, a Federal law enforcement officer, or an official who is covered by section 1114, the individual shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

[Scott Dolan]

Goddamn, Larry! Hope this is nothing more than some psycho trying to rattle your cage.

Either way, I second the suggestion Jim offered above about contacting the FBI. As kh astutely notes above, this person has committed a federal crime.

Until then, be cautious but calm. Easy for me to say, but you could drive yourself insane otherwise.

My wife had an ex employee threaten her life many years ago. After the initial fear and shock wore off we were able to relax a little.

[Larry Kart]

Amazingly (or not so amazingly) I'm fairly sure that last night I found the review on the Trib's digital archive. It's from 1981. Further, one of the people involved in the production has the initials K.C. If so, how dumb is that, to stick one's actual initials on the threatening letter? OTOH, if one wants to get psychological, some sort of cat-and-mouse game might be what this kook has in mind.

[clifford_thornton]

I don't really have anything to add here other than that I'm sorry this happened and that I hope you can push it to the fullest legal extent. That tool should be in the clink.

[Leeway]

Amazingly (or not so amazingly) I'm fairly sure that last night I found the review on the Trib's digital archive. It's from 1981. Further, one of the people involved in the production has the initials K.C. If so, how dumb is that, to stick one's actual initials on the threatening letter? OTOH, if one wants to get psychological, some sort of cat-and-mouse game might be what this kook has in mind.

That is very significant information. Share that with law enforcement. That information plus information from the mailing, could make the case. I wouldn't confront the person directly.

[Scott Dolan]

This is all very troubling.

There are some very psychotic motherfuckers out there, folks.

Larry, I hope that the advice and sympathy you've received here helps.

What a bullshit position to be in...

Sorry, brother...

[Larry Kart]

Thanks, Scott, and everyone else. I'm cool so far, I think, but my wife tells me I was a little edgy at times today. Took the postal inspector route this morning, but they haven't called back so far.

[Scott Dolan]

I was edgy as well, Larry.

Oddly enough, my wife wasn't. And she was the one threatened!

Better half, and all that...

Wish I was there, brother. I'd welcome this POS to take a swing at me.

What a coward.

[Rooster_Ties]

You don't have to reveal here where it was from, but was there a postmark that identified where it was mailed from?

Good luck with all this, and keep pursuing a remedy with every option you have.

[Larry Kart]

You don't have to reveal here where it was from, but was there a postmark that identified where it was mailed from?

Good luck with all this, and keep pursuing a remedy with every option you have.

Yes, but it was from a post office that's a clearing house for a great deal of mail in the Chicago area.

[GA Russell]

My best wishes to you, Larry.

[Larry Kart]

Just spoke to a postal inspector who seems to understand the situation perfectly. Having found what I'm sure is the "offending" review I wrote way back in 1981(!), I was able to give him the name of a member of the crew of the play who has the same initials (KC) that were on the threatening letter, plus (because the name is not a common one) the address and phone number of the only person in the Chicago area who has that name. He said he will investigate, and it sounded like he had the means and will to do so.

Yes, the person of that name whose address and phone number I found may not be the KC who was part of that play, but if not, that would be quite a coincidence. And, without going into too much detail, I have almost no doubt that this review is the one the letter writer was referring to.

[uli]

Hope this awful situation ends soon and well for you, Larry.

You are probably right to not reveal too much detail in the ongoing investigation. A google search brings up this thread.