Man Faces Charges in Utah in Obama Threat

Told bank teller he was on mission to kill prez; dad: he's mentally ill

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 9, 2009 5:55 AM CDT

(Newser) – A man accused of telling a Utah bank teller "We are on a mission to kill the president of the United States" is in federal custody and will face charges, the Las Vegas Sun reports. Daniel James Murray was arrested outside a hotel in Nevada Friday. He will be sent to Utah, where he could be sentenced to up to five years in jail if found guilty.

The judge decided not to grant Murray bail, noting that he had withdrawn $84,000 from the bank at the time he made the threat. Knives and bullet casings were found in his car. Murray's father said his son is mentally ill and had ceased taking his medication three years ago. "I'm not sugarcoating it, because you don't threaten the president of the United States," he said.

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Murray was arrested Friday night outside the Riverside Casino in Laughlin, Nevada. (©tomsaint11)

President Barack Obama returns to the White House following a trip to Normandy for a D-Day commemoration on Sunday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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We are hoping that he gets the appropriate treatment. He doesn't accept the fact that he's mentally ill. - Michael Murray, father of Daniel James Murray

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Man Faces Charges in Utah in Obama Threat