On October 2, 2025, at 5:45 p.m. Detectives Jennifer Loesch and Sergeant Roger Ballard arrested 67-year-old Raymond Gossett of Washington, Indiana on the charge of Intimidation With a Deadly Weapon after nearly three week investigation. On Friday September 12, 2025, Deputy Jennifer Loesch opened an investigation after a local Auto Sales business near the Fort Branch area received threatening and misleading emails from an encrypted email service based outside of the country where a specific vehicle was mentioned that was on the property. This unknown person alleged that large amounts of drugs were in the vehicle at one point, and later in the investigation alleged that an explosive device had been planted inside the vehicle.
On September 15, 2025, Deputy Loesch, Sgt. Loren Barchett, and his K9 partner Duke performed a free air sniff around the suspect vehicle, a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee and was unable to locate any illegal substances in or around the vehicle. As the threats grew Deputy Loesch and the Indiana State Police EOD unit examined the vehicle on September 30, 2025, and found no tampering or explosives in or around the vehicle. At that point with the assistance of Gibson County Sheriff’s Office IT Specialist Chris Ziebell Deputy Loesch was able to isolate the IP address of the threatening emails up in Daviess County.
On October 2, 2025, at 1:55 p.m. Deputy Loesch spoke with Mr. Gossett, a former owner of the vehicle, and made him aware of some of the threats and allegations that had been made about his former vehicle. After this brief conversation the Auto Sales business received their final email where they again alleged that illegal drugs were in the vehicle and the unknown person would come get the vehicle. At that point Deputy Loesch secured a search warrant for Mr. Gossett’s residence in the 300 block of Dewey Avenue in Washington, Indiana. At 7:17 p.m. with he assistance of the Washington PD/Daviess County SWAT Unit Deputy Loesch and Sgt. Ballard executed the search warrant. Mr. Gossett was taken to the Washington Police Department where he admitted that he had sent the threatening and misleading emails. Once the investigation was concluded Deputy Loesch transported Mr. Gossett to the Gibson County Detention Center where he was charged with Intimidation With a Deadly Weapon a Level 5 Felony.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
