Wood River Man Charged With Terrorist Threat Against Local Illinois Lawmaker
Madison County prosecutors filed a Class X felony for threats made via email targeting a legislator and law enforcement officials.
EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County prosecutors have filed a Class X felony charge against a Wood River man accused of sending an email to an Illinois legislator threatening to kill the lawmaker, police officers, and members of the government, State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Edwardsville.
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Spencer G. Frymire, D.O.B. 11/6/2002, is charged with:
• Count 1: Making A Terrorist Threat (class X felony).
• Count 2: Electronic Harassment (class 4 felony). Count 1 alleges the defendant sent an email to the lawmaker on Saturday, March 14, 2026, stating he intended to start killing cops and local government. Count 2 alleges the defendant, in the same email, threatened to kill the legislator. The exact phrasing in count II in the electronic harassment reads: "In that said defendant, through electronic communication, threatened injury to the person of Senator Erica Harriss, whom the communication was directed, and during the course of the offense, threatened to kill Senator Erica Harriss, in violation of 720 ILCS 26-6.3(a)(5) and against the peace and dignity of the said People of the State of Illinois."
Frymire was taken into custody by Wood River police on Tuesday morning, March 17, 2026, and remained in custody as of Thursday afternoon, March 19, 2026, Haine said.
Haine’s office has filed a petition to deny pretrial release, arguing Frymire should remain in custody while awaiting trial because he poses a threat.
Circuit Judge Tim Berkley remanded Frymire to the Madison County Jail until a hearing on the state’s detention petition.
The investigation was led by the Wood River Police Department with assistance from other agencies, including the Illinois State Police. Haine commended Wood River Chief Brad Wells, Detective Sgt. Brent Rombach and Sgt. Evan Ford for their work.
“Threats to commit violence are never acceptable,” Haine said. “Our office treats them with the gravity they deserve.”
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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