The Polk County Sheriff’s Office apprehended a Texas man for making threatening statements online about well-known internet personality Kaitlin Bennett.
Erik Michael David Ebbesen, a 29-year-old Texas resident, was arrested at the Relax Inn of Lakeland on February 24, 2026. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, he is charged with making written threats to kill and using a two-way communication device unlawfully.
Sheriff Grady Judd underlined the value of free speech, saying, “Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of our constitutional republic, so attempting to intimidate or threaten someone else’s right to free speech is a concern.” Ebbesen reportedly told detectives that he “went a little too far” and “crossed a boundary.”
The inquiry began on November 21, 2025, when Bennett contacted the sheriff’s office regarding an Instagram post from an account called “erikhoudini.” The post contained a threatening letter addressed to Bennett and mentioned the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a famous figure recognized for similar advocacy efforts.
Bennett noticed other troubling statements on the Discord network, in which Ebbesen stated a desire to find her at one of her events. Bennett became concerned about her safety, especially in Lakeland, where she had previously encountered public confrontations.
Detectives linked Ebbesen to the “erikhoudini” accounts and found connections to residences in Austin and San Antonio, Texas. They also discovered online images of Ebbesen in Lakeland, at sites linked with Bennett’s public appearances.
Upon arrest, Ebbesen recognized that his writings could be interpreted as menacing and made inappropriate parallels to the Charlie Kirk assassination. He apologized, saying he was likely “overly upset and under stress” at the time.
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