Texas Woman Fails to Report to Prison for Violent Threats

Abigail Shry was due to begin a 27-month sentence but has gone on the run, prompting a federal warrant for her arrest.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Abigail Shry, a Texas woman who made a series of violent threats against public officials, including a federal judge and a member of Congress, failed to report to federal prison this week to begin serving a 27-month sentence. Shry had pleaded guilty in 2024 to a federal charge for threatening Judge Tanya Chutkan, saying she would "come to kill you" if former President Trump wasn't re-elected in 2024. Shry was also accused of threatening then-Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and making threats against Texas legislators during impeachment proceedings against the state's attorney general. A federal judge has now issued a warrant for Shry's arrest.

Why it matters

Shry's failure to report to prison raises concerns about the ability to hold individuals accountable for making violent threats against public officials. Her case highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in monitoring and apprehending suspects who make such threats, especially when they involve potential violence against government institutions and elected representatives.

The details

Abigail Shry, a resident of Alvin, Texas, was due to report to a federal correctional facility in Tallahassee, Florida, on Tuesday to begin serving a 27-month sentence for threatening a federal judge. However, Shry failed to show up, and a federal judge has now issued a warrant for her arrest. Shry had pleaded guilty in November 2024 to a federal charge for leaving a threatening voicemail for Judge Tanya Chutkan, calling her a "stupid slave [epithet]" and saying, "If Trump doesn't get elected in 2024, we're coming to kill you." Shry was also accused of threatening then-Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat, and making threats against Texas legislators during impeachment proceedings against the state's attorney general, Ken Paxton.

  • Shry was due to report to prison on Tuesday, February 18, 2026.
  • Shry pleaded guilty in November 2024 to a federal charge for threatening Judge Tanya Chutkan.
  • Shry's threats against Texas legislators occurred in 2023, during impeachment proceedings against Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The players

Abigail Shry

A Texas resident who has made a series of violent threats against public officials, including a federal judge and a member of Congress.

Judge Tanya Chutkan

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., who was the target of Shry's threats, which were made after Chutkan was assigned to oversee a case related to the 2020 election conspiracy.

Sheila Jackson Lee

A former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, who was also the target of Shry's threats.

Ken Paxton

The Texas Attorney General who was the subject of impeachment proceedings in 2023, during which Shry allegedly made threats against Texas legislators.

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What they’re saying

“If Trump doesn't get elected in 2024, we're coming to kill you. So tread lightly.”

— Abigail Shry (Department of Justice)

“Shry specifically states that there would be an armed attack and it would not be non-violent like the January 6th protests at the U.S. Capitol.”

— Texas Police (CBS News)

“In this particular instance, I don't want to be that FBI agent that didn't go check on Lee Harvey Oswald two days before John Kennedy was assassinated. That happened. And that's the footnote in history. And I'm standing here before you today because this defendant is unmoored and I believe that there's going to be more.”

— Federal Prosecutor (Transcript of Detention Hearing)

What’s next

The judge in the case has ordered a federal warrant for Shry's arrest, and authorities are actively searching for her to apprehend her and bring her into custody to begin serving her 27-month prison sentence.

The takeaway

Shry's failure to report to prison highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in monitoring and holding accountable individuals who make violent threats against public officials and government institutions. Her case underscores the need for continued vigilance and coordination between federal and state authorities to address the rising threat of domestic extremism and political violence.