EDGEWATER, Fla. — A 38-year-old man has been arrested after posting violent threats on social media directed at a local church and other religious groups, police said.
The Edgewater Police Department (EPD) said it became aware over the weekend of posts that included images of a firearm along with threatening statements.
Investigators said the posts included messages such as, “Imagine a pig’s head turning into salsa from a thousand yards away,” followed by additional statements including “Works on Christians too,” “And their kids,” and “And Jews.”
Detectives quickly identified the suspect as Stephen Joseph Maiocchi of New Smyrna Beach and took him into custody without incident on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
According to police, Maiocchi admitted to making the posts, telling investigators he was angry with a church following a prior interaction and acknowledged he was seeking attention.
This is the same Stephen Maiocchi that went missing in November 2023. At the time, the EPD had released his information to the public, but was later found.
He has been charged with written threats to kill or do bodily injury and is currently being held without bond.
The investigation remains ongoing.