By Becky Gillette – A Berryville man accused against making a “jihad” threat to kill his wife and homosexuals at the Eureka Springs restaurant where she works remains in custody at the Carroll County Detention Center after being arrested Nov. 17. Jeremiah Bliss-Leija was later charged with terroristic threatening, a class A felony, making a terroristic threat, a class D felony, and domestic assault, a class C misdemeanor.
According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, Emily Leija told Berryville police that on Nov. 16, she had been arguing with her husband, Bliss-Leija, and that they had been having problems for some time.
“When Emily informed Jeremiah that she wanted to get a divorce, he threatened her,” the Affidavit of Probable Cause said. “Emily paraphrased the treat that Jeremiah made to her, ‘He was going to buy an automatic rifle, go to Cafe Amore to kill all those faggots, slit her throat and die an honorable death by bringing jihad to Berryville.’ Emily went on to state that Jeremiah is very vocal about his hatred towards homosexuals; calling them dogs that deserve to be killed. Emily advised that she was scared of Jeremiah and did not wish to return home.”
Bond was set a $250,000 with an arraignment hearing set for Dec. 12.
After his arrest and waiving his rights, Bliss-Leija agreed to an interview with police in which he said his wife exaggerated his comments in reference to her and toward homosexuals. Bliss-Leija told police that his wife misconstrued statements he made during an intense argument, and that he never threatened to kill anyone. But Bliss-Leija told police that associating with homosexuals was not permitted and homosexuals deserve to be put to death, according to the Torah, which is Hebrew Scriptures.
“Jeremiah stated that according to the Torah, homosexuality is an abomination and that homosexuals deserved to be stoned to death,” the affidavit said. “He stated this is a statement he made to Emily the prior evening. Jeremiah said that he is not scared and will not hide his religious beliefs just because they are not popular.”
During the police interview, Jeremiah denied threatening to kill his wife, but said she deserved to die because she had been unfaithful and ‘according to the Torah, she needs to be put to death. During this part of the interview, Jeremiah became upset and teary eyed. He stated that Emily does deserve death but he did not threaten her.”
The couple have four children under age five.
Bliss-Leija also told police that it could be interpreted that he was a terrorist, stating he was detained by TSA overnight while on a flight to Israel.
“He believes that Emily knows of this detention and that she may think him to be a terrorist,” the report said. “Jeremiah states he spends a lot of time in online groups and estimates 60 percent of these groups are ‘Arab groups’.”
Bliss-Leija said he owns a .25 caliber handgun and if he were to purchase a rifle, it would be from a local pawnshop.
The police officer said Bliss-Leija displayed verbal and physical signs of deception during the interview and that he would often avoid directly answering questions by referring to the wording of his faith.
Bliss-Leija was also involved with an altercation in June when he allegedly pepper sprayed a man who works at Cafe Amore. Bliss-Leija’s wife told police her husband thought she was cheating with the man she was talking to at the time, and that her husband didn’t know the man he attacked is gay. A hearing is scheduled Jan. 17 on that misdemeanor charge.
The affidavit said the suspect is a native of California whose mother is of German descent and father is Mexican. The police noted he spoke with an Arabic accent that would come and go during the interview.
Owners of Cafe Amore said they had no comment.