Carnegie man accused of threatening to kill probation officer turns self in

PITTSBURGH — A man accused of leaving a voice mail threatening to kill his probation officer because the man was upset that his mother died shortly after she was charged with hindering his arrest on a probation violation charge turned himself in to Pittsburgh police Friday afternoon.

“The story is very simple. As you can see, he turned himself in today. He did the right thing,” defense attorney Jim Ecker said.

Police said Theodore Hatcher, 35, called his probation officer on Oct. 19 and left a profanity-laced message that threatened to kill the officer saying, "You killed my mother. Something's got to go down."

According to police, a bench warrant was issued for Hatcher's arrest after he failed to appear in court.

Allegheny County sheriff's deputies showed up at his mother's home seeking to arrest him on the violation and an altercation occurred, according to police.

Officials said Hatcher's mother was taken to jail and was charged with hindering apprehension.

Hatcher said she spent a week in jail, and two days after being released she died.

Hatcher and his family said the deputies were "rough" with the woman and that's why she died. Hatcher said they're considering legal action.

“They tasered his younger brother in front of the mother and the mother got extremely upset. The mother and brother were taken to jail to spend quite a few days in jail. The mother was very sick to begin with and she died shortly after she got out of jail,” Ecker said.

The coroner said Hatcher’s mother did not die from injuries. The cause and manner of death are pending toxicology.

According to Sheriff Bill Mullen, his deputies followed protocol and Hatcher’s mother went to jail without injury.

“He has remorse and regrets for what he did. He has no problem whatsoever with the probation officer. It was simply reactionary under the circumstances,” defense attorney Phil DiLucente said.

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