Boca Raton Man Arrested After ‘Credible Threat’ Against State Rep. Gossett-Seidman

Luke David Schlauder (left) and State Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman.

A Boca Raton man is in custody after lodging an apparent “credible death threat” against State Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman.

The individual, Luke David Schlauder, was arrested Thursday and charged with intimidation, and written-electronic threat to kill or to do bodily harm to another person.

Gossett-Seidman, a Highland Beach resident who represents House District 91, publicly thanked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the State’s Attorney Office for their “swift action in arresting a suspect accused of making a credible death threat against the House District 91 representative.”

District 91 covers all of Boca Raton and Highland Beach, and a portion of West Boca. Gossett-Seidman, a Republican, has served as representative since her election in 2022. She is currently running for a third term.

“You hear stories from around the country of politicians and their offices being threatened, but you never think it will happen to you,” she said in a statement. “These threats were shocking and vile. I was very worried and feared for my life and safety as well as my staff. No person, regardless of their political affiliation, should fear for their life simply because they are running for, or hold, elected office.”

Many of the details of the case against Schlauder were not available since the county’s record system was down for maintenance, however a police report shared with Boca Daily News indicates he left voicemails for the representative threatening to “slit her throat” if he received another piece of campaign literature in the mail. Palm Beach County Jail records showed Schlauder was being held without bond on the intimidation/threat charge, while bond had been set at $50,000 on a separate charge of using an electronic device to facilitate a felony. He was booked into the jail just after 5 p.m. Thursday, and FDLE was listed as the arresting agency.

“Florida is a law-and-order state, and we thank FDLE and the State Attorney for enforcing our laws and putting this guy behind bars,” Gossett-Seidman said.