U better shut trap u next person in line : Maine man arrested after Xbox death threats to Florida teen spark two-year investigation

Get the Full StoryPolice arrested James Maynard, following a two-and-a-half-year investigation into a series of violent threats Maynard allegedly made over the Xbox network. The arrest stems from a disturbing sequence of events that began in late 2022 and targeted a juvenile in Palm Coast, Florida, highlighting the dark side of online gaming. The Xbox death threats investigation began on October 28, 2022, when the Flagler County Sheriff s Office responded to a report from a concerned father, Christopher Burdi. He stated that his son, Connor Burdi, had received threatening messages through Xbox Live from a user identified by the gamertag rashaphid#5243. According to Maynard s charging affidavit, the messages included menacing language such as your family be misser if speard room agan bum house to ground and U better shut trap u next person in line falmy that I kil. The threats escalated A Maine man is accused of threatening to kill a Florida juvenile and their family via messages sent over the Xbox network. https: t.co acFsPlZr4m CBS 13 News WGME April 29, 2025 The threats escalated after Connor attempted to block the sender, prompting the suspect to repeatedly change usernames and reach out through additional platforms like Snapchat and even video calls. Despite never having met the individual in person, Connor later positively identified the suspect in a photo array and during a recorded video chat. Flagler County detectives, including Deputy Patel and later Detective Gossett, collaborated with federal and local agencies to trace the online accounts. A breakthrough came in early 2025 when Microsoft responded to a search warrant, revealing the Xbox account was registered to Maynard, a 32-year-old resident of Pittsfield, Maine. Further evidence tied the suspect to email and phone records, which were registered in the name of his mother, Catherine Maynard. If you make threats whether in person or online we will track you down On April 25, 2025, detectives from Flagler County traveled to Maine and, with the assistance of the Somerset County Sheriff s Office and Waterville Police Department, arrested Maynard. He was booked into the Kennebec County Correctional Facility and awaits extradition to Florida on charges of making written or electronic threats to kill. This case shows the persistence and dedication of our Major Case Unit, said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly. We will not tolerate threats to our residents, even if they come from thousands of miles away. If you make threats whether in person or online we will track you down. The Xbox death threats investigation highlights a growing concern among law enforcement regarding the misuse of gaming platforms to harass or threaten others. While gaming is often seen as a recreational activity, this case underscores how predators can exploit anonymity to engage in criminal behavior. Authorities encourage anyone who experiences similar online threats to report them immediately and preserve evidence such as screenshots or usernames. The Flagler County Sheriff s Office also urges parents to monitor their children s online interactions, especially on platforms that include voice or messaging functions.

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