Christopher Henderson, a 37-year-old Exton man, is behind bars after Marple Township police say he posted threatening messages aimed at St. Pius X Church and its on-site school in Broomall. Officers quickly increased security at the parish and school while they tracked the source of the posts, and authorities say they do not believe there is an active threat to the public at this time. Henderson is being held in Delaware County Prison and has been ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation as a condition of his bail.
Police identified the suspect as Christopher Henderson, 37, of Exton, and said he is being held on $500,000 bail after what they described as “some alarming social media posts” directed at the parish, according to NBC10 Philadelphia. Investigators said Henderson must complete a psychological evaluation and is barred from entering Marple Township except for court-related business. While they worked the case, police stationed extra officers at the church and school but emphasized they do not believe there is an ongoing threat.
Marple Township Police Chief Brandon M. Graeff said the online posts referenced “non-believers” and used language that alarmed investigators. According to Patch, the post included a vulgar threat, and Henderson was charged with terroristic threats, a third-degree felony. Patch also reports that Henderson has not posted bail and that a preliminary hearing is set for June 25.
The Target: St. Pius X Church and School
St. Pius X is a Roman Catholic parish with an elementary school on its Broomall campus. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia lists the parish and school on Lawrence Road, notes that the school serves students through eighth grade, and provides the parish Mass schedule and contact details.
Legal implications
Pennsylvania’s terroristic threats statute, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2706, makes it a crime to communicate a threat intended to terrorize another person or to cause an evacuation or serious public inconvenience. The law states the offense is generally a misdemeanor but is graded as a third-degree felony if an evacuation or diversion of normal operations results. It also allows courts to order restitution for emergency-response costs tied to evacuations, a tool prosecutors sometimes use when threats trigger large police or fire mobilizations.
What happens next
Henderson remains in Delaware County Prison and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 25, according to local reporting. Marple Township police say they will keep a visible presence at St. Pius X while the investigation moves forward and urged anyone with information about the social media posts to contact investigators, per NBC10 Philadelphia.
