Matthew Ammel, the former bodyguard and romantic partner of ex-Senator Kyrsten Sinema, has been arrested and appeared in court for allegedly violating a no-contact order and making threats. Court documents reveal chilling text messages in which Ammel allegedly vowed to punish Sinema and threatened to decapitate a judge.
Prosecutors presented text messages allegedly sent by Ammel that led Sinema to feel "reasonably and objectively afraid" of serious injury, according to 12News. Ammel was arrested on September 29 for allegedly violating the no-contact order and trashing Sinema's home. He was initially held on a $25,000 bond, with prosecutors seeking to increase it to $100,000 cash only.
Investigators reportedly uncovered messages not only directed at Sinema but also at an unnamed North Carolina judge. Ammel's ex-wife, Heather Ammel, had previously filed a lawsuit in North Carolina under the state's "homewrecker" law. In one alleged message to a bail bondsman, Ammel stated, "She needs to pay," referring to Sinema and suggesting she should cover his bond.
Other alleged messages attributed to Ammel include, "I'm taking her down no matter what it takes," and "she needs to be punished." During a court hearing, Sinema's attorney stated, "[She] is reasonably and objectively afraid that if [Ammel] is released, that he will seriously injure either [her] or someone else in the community."
Further texts allegedly sent on August 16 to military contacts reportedly contained violent threats, including, "I'm going to decapitate this f—-t and kill his entire family." Ammel has a prior conviction for assaulting a physician at a North Carolina hospital.
Prosecutors argued for a high cash-only bond, describing it as "the only way to protect the victim and the community, and to ensure he complies with court orders." Ammel is currently in custody and faces potential house arrest with an electronic monitoring tag if he posts bond.
A trial is scheduled for February 9, 2027, for charges related to the alleged destruction of Sinema's home, which Ammel reportedly attributed to frustration with the U.S. political system. He is accused of causing over $200,000 in damages, including throwing 22 paintings into her swimming pool and breaking alcohol bottles and a mirror. Ammel claims he trashed the home after Sinema refused to post a video of soldiers aiding a wounded man in Iraq.
Sinema's relationship with Ammel, who joined her security team in 2022, became public after his ex-wife sued the former senator, alleging Sinema's affair with Ammel while he was married destroyed their 14-year marriage. Heather Ammel's lawsuit claimed Sinema provided gifts and paid for psychedelic treatment for Matthew Ammel during their alleged relationship.