A 60-year-old Seymour man is in custody after police say he threatened current and former employees of a local financial institution, along with others connected to it, and took concrete steps toward carrying those threats out.
The Seymour Police Department identified the suspect as Fred W. Heckman of Seymour and said he was booked into the Jackson County Jail. Investigators stressed the case is still active and that all parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
According to the Seymour Police Department, a written incident release from Lieutenant C. J. Foster says patrol officers received information that an individual had been intimidating and making threats toward present and past employees and other people tied to a local financial institution. Investigators are continuing to build the case, and the department says more details will be released as they become available.
Arrest and Charges
Police say they arrested Heckman on Friday and booked him into the Jackson County Jail on multiple felony counts. The release states he faces three counts of attempted murder, classified as Level 1 felonies, three counts of intimidation, classified as Level 6 felonies, and one count of intimidation of a law enforcement officer, classified as a Level 5 felony.
The release also notes that the individual "took what was perceived as a substantial step in carrying out the threats," according to the Seymour Police Department.
Custody and Local Jurisdiction
Heckman was transported to the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown, which houses inmates from Seymour and surrounding communities. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office lists the facility at 150 East SR 250 in Brownstown and provides contact numbers for the jail for those seeking official custody or booking information.
Officials note that media inquiries and requests for booking or court details should be directed to the sheriff's office or the county prosecutor, who will handle the case as it moves through the local court system.
Legal Context
The allegations carry serious potential penalties under Indiana law. Attempted murder is treated as a Level 1 felony, and state statutes set a 20-year minimum sentence for Level 1 felonies. Level 5 and Level 6 felonies carry lower minimum terms. Sentencing ranges and advisory terms are outlined in the Indiana Code, which governs felony penalties and procedures statewide. The statutory ranges are available in the Indiana Code.
What’s Next
Police say the investigation is ongoing. Jackson County prosecutors will review the case file and decide what formal charges to file, along with the next procedural steps, such as arraignment and bond decisions.
The Seymour Police Department has asked anyone with information related to the threats or the ongoing investigation to contact detectives. For updates on custody status and court records as the case proceeds, the public can check with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.
