SPOKANE, Wash. — A fugitive wanted by Idaho authorities for wounding a church pastor apparently wrote a manifesto contending that Martians controlled the Earth, police said. ADVERTISING SPOKANE, Wash. — A fugitive wanted by Idaho authorities for wounding a church
SPOKANE, Wash. — A fugitive wanted by Idaho authorities for wounding a church pastor apparently wrote a manifesto contending that Martians controlled the Earth, police said.
Kyle Odom, 30, was arrested Tuesday afternoon by U.S. Secret Service agents after allegedly throwing items over the fence at the White House in Washington, D.C.
“I think everyone can breathe a good sigh of relief that at least this part of the case has come to a conclusion,” said Lee White, police chief for Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where the shooting occurred.
White said he was told Odom threw computer flash drives and other items over the White House fence on Tuesday.
Odom appeared in District of Columbia Superior Court on Wednesday, wearing handcuffs and a chain connecting his ankles. He said only his name when asked. Public defender Ieshaah Murphy said Odom declined to waive an extradition hearing and be sent back to Idaho in the next few days. He will be held in jail pending a hearing scheduled for April 6 in Washington, where the only issue is whether the Idaho warrant for attempted first-degree murder in his case is valid.
Meanwhile, Pastor Tim Remington, shot six times Sunday outside his church in Coeur d’Alene, about 30 miles east of Spokane, had regained consciousness and is talking with his family.
Coeur d’Alene Police Detective Jared Reneau said Odom had attended Remington’s church a few times and apparently was the author of a manifesto that contended the pastor was a member of a Martian species that had taken over the Earth. Details were contained in electronic documents that Odom apparently mailed to his family and news media outlets this week.
Given Odom’s apparent state of mind, “we feel pretty fortunate something worse didn’t happen,” Reneau said.
Odom’s family issued a statement Tuesday evening, saying they were thankful for the safe apprehension of their son.
“As Kyle was not living with us, we are learning of his plans as they are being released by police,” Odom’s family said. “We are truly thankful to God he is safe and no one else has been injured.”
After the Sunday afternoon shooting, Odom drove west toward Spokane, Washington. He boarded a flight at the Boise Airport sometime Monday, White said. It’s unclear how Odom was able to board a plane with a warrant out for his arrest, White said.
A former Marine from Coeur d’Alene, Odom is suspected of shooting Remington a day after the pastor led the prayer at a campaign rally for Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz. Authorities say there’s no indication Remington’s appearance with Cruz had anything to do with the shooting.
Odom graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in biochemistry. The manifesto contended that his life started to deteriorate during his final semester and was now ruined.
“Ruined by an intelligent species of amphibian-humanoid from Mars,” the manifesto said.
Odom contended that the Martians were here before humans, lived underground and operated a breeding program for humans, the manifesto said.
“Don’t believe me? Ask President Obama to take a lie detector test of this one,” the manifesto said.
Odom contended the Martians were unable to control his mind but had been following him. He said he had attempted suicide twice, but they stopped him.
“As you can see, I’m pretty smart,” the manifesto said. “I’m also 100% sane, 0% crazy.”
The manifesto included the names of members of Congress, members of the Israeli government, Remington and John Padula, outreach pastor for The Altar Church, where Remington is the senior pastor.
“My last resort was to take actions that would bring this to the public’s attention,” the manifesto said.
Earlier Tuesday, Padula said Remington, 55, regained consciousness Monday night in a Coeur d’Alene hospital. “He’s whispering and talking to his family a little bit,” Padula said.
Remington, who is married and has four children, has no feeling in his right arm, Padula said.
Remington has been with The Altar Church for nearly two decades, specializing in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction, Padula said.
The Coeur d’Alene Police Department issued a warrant for Odom, who has no criminal record but does have a history of mental illness.
