In a turn of events linked to a child custody case, Michael Wortham, a 31-year-old convicted felon, now faces charges after alleged death threats to a retired Davidson County judge. Detectives from TITANS Unit arrested Wortham while he was found sleeping in his car in Old Hickory, as reported by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
The investigation, led by the Specialized Investigations Division, traced back the origin of the menacing messages to a Facebook account connected to Wortham's phone number, according to the Nashville Metro Police Department. The messages were directed at Judge Stanley Kweller, who had retired after making a January 2024 custody decision resulting in Wortham losing parental rights, information obtained by officials suggests.
After the emergence of these threats, Wortham, who was thought to be living out of state, appeared on a national database when two felony warrants were issued against him. MNPD detectives, vigilant for any clues to his whereabouts, caught a break when his vehicle was spotted by an Arkansas license plate reader last Saturday, indicating his probable return to Nashville.
Following the lead, Wortham was found by authorities in the vicinity of his last known Davidson County address, the vehicle seemingly a makeshift domicile. "He was booked on his outstanding warrants for aggravated stalking and retaliation for past action," the Nashville Metro Police Department's statement confirmed.
