Maryland man arrested in Seattle, accused of threatening to kill all Hispanics

Caution: Story contains disturbing language and graphic content

SEATTLE - A Maryland man accused of threatening to kill a Florida restaurant employee and cut her heart out as part of a plan to slaughter all Hispanics in a "racial war" has been arrested in Seattle.

Eric Lin, 35, of Clarksburg, Md., was taken into custody Friday in Seattle after being charged in federal court with making threatening communications, said Marlene A. Fernandez-Karavetsos, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office in South Florida.

According to court documents, Lin made multiple threats via Facebook to injure and kill the employee and to "exterminate" all Hispanics in Miami and other places.

Authorities were alerted to the threatening messages by the Spanish-speaking employee, who worked at a restaurant that Lin frequented. While in the restaurant, Lin allegedly would use language that echoed his disturbing Facebook messages.

Lin would send messages to the employee threatening extermination of all Hispanics, and once sent a picture of himself with Hitler's face superimposed over his own, court records say.

He also went into gruesome detail, saying how he would dismember the employee, cut out her heart "while it is still beating" and eat the employee "like eating a steak" to teach her "respect."

Lin also expressed admiration for President Trump, and what he believed were Trump's plans to "launch a Racial War" that would result in the extermination of all non-whites.

"I Thank God everyday President Donald John Trump is President and that he will launch a Racial War and Crusade to keep the N-----s, Spics and Muslims and any dangerous non-White or Ethnically or Culturally Foreign group 'In Line' by in line it is meant that they will either be sent to 'Concentration Camps' or dealt with Ruthlessly and Vigorously by the United States Military," said one message quoted in court documents.

Lin also expressed admiration for Adolph Hitler, and in one message wrote, in all caps, that all he needs is "AUTHORITY FROM ADOLPH HITLER TO ACT. I FOLLOW ONLY ADOLPH HITLER AND THEN GOD. THEY ARE ONE AND THE SAME."

Another message said, "I look forward to committing a genocide," court records show.

Lin also messaged the employee and told her that if she stood in his way "we are going to put so many bullets in your body that your Spanish Spic American Hating Mother is not going to be able to identify you," according to court records.

After obtaining a search warrant from Facebook, investigators found messages Lin had sent asking another individual to travel to Miami to injure and kidnap the restaurant worker and bring her to Seattle, offering to pay the person as much as $25,000 to do so, court papers say.

"The Plan is you and Mara convince her that you are Rich White Americans people she looks up to. And then get her into a Rented House or Mansion and then chain her up and put her in a Rubber made Plastic Bin. Then you got to Drive her to Seattle, Washington upon which I will pay you $25,000 cash," he wrote.

After his arrest, Lin made an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate judge in Seattle.

Estela Ortega from the advocacy organization El Centro de la Raza says along with the El-Paso massacre targeted at Latinos, the threats are another example of hateful sentiment intensifying around the country that must be denounced.

“We are afraid but who wouldn’t be afraid on a situation like this when you are constantly being attacked and this has been going on for years,” said Ortega. “We are fearful but that’s not going to stop us to continue to do the work that we need to do and to live the lives that we live. In terms of working, sending our kids to school, starting businesses, buying homes.”

Lin is expected back in court on Monday, Aug. 26, for a hearing on his detention.