One year later, people recall Shawn Christy search

KLINE TOWNSHIP, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — It’s been nearly one year since a Schuylkill County man led U.S. Marshals on a nationwide manhunt. Shawn Christy, from McAdoo, is accused of threatening to kill President Trump and other officials.

One year later, many people across our region still talk about Shawn Christy. Christy remains in federal custody awaiting trial. But his parents insist, as they have from Day One, that he is being victimized by the justice system.

“I just want justice to be served. I want our son’s name to be cleared,” Karen Christy, Shawn’s mother said.

And that is something Karen and Craig Christy from McAdoo believe will happen. Their 27-year-old son, Shawn Christy, was the focus of a three-month-long manhunt that began in the early morning hours of June 20, 2018 when U.S. Marshals, backed up by state and local police, raided his McAdoo home.

Christy was wanted for allegedly making social media threats to kill President Trump and other public officials. Little would anyone know this was the beginning of a three-month odyssey that would span six states and Canada.

Christy allegedly broke into homes, stole vehicles and weapons. He was captured in September when he crashed a stolen truck near Columbus, Ohio. But the Christys have argued that he is the victim of a corrupt justice system.

“I just want to say he’s not a big terrorist guy that the news made him out to be by putting a bounty on his head like he was some kind of terrorist that was just insane,” Karen Christy said.

When asked about the alleged threats on social media to kill the president and other public officials, Craig Christy said; “I really cannot comment too much because of legal proceedings. I would like to know about the threats against Shawn the FBI knows about.”

Eyewitness News spoke briefly with Shawn Christy at a December hearing. When asked what he wanted to say to people who were afraid because he was lurking around their homes and they feared for their safety, Shawn Christy said: “I was afraid the U.S. Marshals would try to shoot and kill me over an altered videotape of an altercation between me and the former Mayor of McAdoo. I feared for my life as well.”

Federal investigators told Eyewitness News at that time, that was pure nonsense. For folks who live in the areas searched, it is something they will not soon forget.

“It was just a scary situation. He was all over the place. He made many maneuvers of course. Nobody knew where he was,” Peter Wood of McAdoo.said.

“Everybody was afraid. Everyone was afraid,” Lucas Wood of McAdoo said.

Christy’s parents also tell Eyewitness News that federal prosecutors offered a plea deal to their son to end the case in exchange for a lighter prison sentence. They say he refused the offer.

The United States Attorney’s Office tells Eyewitness News they cannot comment on the ongoing case. A trial date has not yet been set.

Christy faces 40 years in prison if convicted on dozens of federal and state charges.