Jan 17, 2017 2 min read

A Waynesburg man is in Greene County jail after allegedly threatening his estranged wife and her boyfriend with a knife and shotgun Sunday night in Franklin Township.

State police said Frank Edward Mitzen Jr., 35, of 125 Fairview Ave., followed Billy Stiles, the boyfriend of Mitzen’s estranged wife, Brenda Merkley-Mitzen, in his truck through Waynesburg just after 11 p.m. Police said when Stiles stopped at a red light on Washington Street, Mitzen got out of his truck with a shotgun and approached Stiles, who then sped away.

Police said Stiles drove to his Bonar Road residence and locked the door with himself, Merkley-Mitzen, along with five children and an elderly man inside.

Mitzen arrived at the residence with a knife and shotgun and tried to get inside, police said. Merkley-Mitzen told police Mitzen ordered them to open the door and that he was “going to slaughter you both.” She told police Mitzen left the residence when he heard her on the phone with police.

Police said they also found several threatening text messages Mitzen had sent to Merkley-Mitzen stating that he wanted to harm them and kill Stiles. Merkley-Mitzen told police that she and Mitzen had been separated for three months after two years of marriage.

Mitzen is charged with two counts each of terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment, as well as one count of disorderly conduct.

Mitzen is being held at Greene County jail on $20,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Jan. 26.