Fort Worth man charged with making terroristic threats towards James Talarico

A Fort Worth man who allegedly sent threatening messages to U.S. [Fox 4 Dallas]

A Tarrant County man faces a misdemeanor charge following an investigation into a series of threatening communications directed at a state legislator running for U.S. Senate.

Billy James McFatridge, 25, of Fort Worth was taken into custody Aug. 25 on allegations of making terroristic threats against a public servant, according to court documents. State Department of Public Safety investigators determined that McFatridge authored hostile messages sent through two separate digital platforms to James Talarico, who serves in the Texas House and is seeking a seat in the U.S. Senate.

The first message, transmitted via Gmail on Aug. 3, contained explicit threats of violence including harm to the candidate's person and desecration of his body, the affidavit states. A second communication sent through Instagram eight days later contained a different threat of a violent nature. When confronted by DPS personnel at his Fort Worth residence, McFatridge acknowledged responsibility for both accounts and the messages they contained.

During his interview, McFatridge disclosed that he possessed access to several firearms but characterized his actions as intended merely to intimidate rather than physically harm Talarico. However, investigators' background review uncovered additional troubling patterns. Records showed McFatridge had directed similar threatening communications at a former employer during 2023 and had faced criminal charges related to aggravated assault in 2018, raising law enforcement concerns about potential for escalating violence.

Talarico's office responded seriously to the threats. The candidate and members of his campaign staff indicated to investigators that the messages caused them genuine concern for their safety. The campaign subsequently implemented heightened security precautions for upcoming events, including activities scheduled in Fort Worth.

McFatridge's release from custody came with stringent conditions. A judge ordered him to wear a GPS tracking device and mandated that he maintain distance from all campaign-related activities and public government facilities. These restrictions remain in effect pending further court proceedings.