Dinwiddie sheriff’s deputies arrest suspect in death threat against Del. Kim Taylor

by Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury
September 25, 2025

The Dinwiddie County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday arrested a man accused of sending a politically motivated death threat to Del. Kim Taylor, R-Petersburg.

Maj. William Knott of the sheriff’s office confirmed the arrest to The Mercury. Authorities identified the suspect as 33-year-old Michael Ray Strawmyer of the 11000 block of Patillo Road in DeWitt, Dinwiddie County.

In a news release, the sheriff’s office said Taylor’s campaign manager reported earlier in the day that the campaign had received a text message threatening the delegate’s life. Investigators developed a suspect and arrested Strawmyer at 2:15 p.m. 

He is being held without bond at Meherrin River Regional Jail in Alberta, pending an initial appearance in Dinwiddie County General District Court.

Taylor’s campaign said she is safe and praised law enforcement for its swift action.

“Earlier today, Delegate Kim Taylor received a politically motivated death threat by text message to her campaign. Our campaign takes every threat seriously and this was no exception. Thanks to the Sheriff’s Department and law enforcement partners, the individual responsible is already in custody,” campaign spokesperson Jacklyn Washington said in a statement.

“Delegate Taylor is safe and doing well,” Washington added. “She is grateful for the decisive action of law enforcement and remains focused on serving her constituents. No threat will distract her from the work she was elected to do.”

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger also condemned the threat. “I am horrified to hear about the death threat made against Delegate Kim Taylor — and I am relieved to hear that the suspect is now in custody,” Spanberger wrote on social media. “I am thinking of Delegate Taylor and her family, and I am grateful for our local law enforcement who worked swiftly on this case.”

Taylor, a Republican delegate since 2022, represents the 82nd District, which covers parts of Chesterfield, Dinwiddie and Prince George counties, along with the city of Petersburg and parts of Hopewell. She won her seat in a 2021 upset against Del. Lashrecse Aird, a Democrat, a victory that helped Republicans regain control of the House of Delegates.

She was narrowly re-elected in 2023 after a recount confirmed her 53-vote edge over Democratic challenger Kimberly Pope Adams. Earlier this year, Taylor drew attention as one of five Republican delegates who joined Democrats in supporting legislation to safeguard same-sex marriage in Virginia.

Away from politics, Taylor is a small business owner who operates car repair shops with her husband, Butch, employing about 30 people. On her campaign website, she highlights her work on school safety legislation, efforts to support victims of human trafficking, and votes for broad tax cuts and regulatory rollbacks.

Law enforcement officials said the investigation into the threat remains ongoing.

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