POULSBO — The wife of a man arrested for sending threatening text messages — resulting in the temporary lockdown of two Poulsbo schools on Oct. 29 — said she believes his intention was murder-suicide, according to charging documents filed with the Kitsap County District Court.

Kenneth Ray Webb, 71, is charged in Kitsap County District Court with first-degree threat to kill, a felony. According to the sheriff’s report, he said he did not intend the messages as threats.

Webb allegedly sent two text messages to his son on the morning of Oct. 29. The texts were directed at his spouse and led to the closure of Poulsbo Elementary and Poulsbo Middle schools for about 30 minutes.

Webb’s spouse has a protection order against him and recently took Webb off of her health insurance plan. After informing their son of the change on Oct. 28, the son received two text messages:

“Your mom just gave me my death sentences,” the first text from 9:53 a.m. reads. “Probably hers to [sic]. Without insurance I will die and I refuse to suffer a slow death. I am sorry.”

And, “I knew all along that she prefers me to be dead,” the second message from 9:57 a.m. reads. “I guess it’s time for us to go to heaven or hell together.”

Webb’s son was “extremely alarmed” and contacted his mother while she was working at the North Kitsap School District and told her to leave her workplace.

Webb’s wife went straight to the Poulsbo Police Department. She told police that “she takes these as a threat made against her life and believes them to be a credible threat,” according to the sheriff’s report.

Webb’s wife told police she believes he could have access to a firearm. She told police “she feels his statement was meant as a murder-suicide statement.”

Webb was arrested just after noon that day at his Suquamish home. He admitted sending the messages but said he did not intend them as threats, according to the sheriff’s report.

“He said he only meant that he would not be able to get his medication,” according to the report.

Once at Kitsap County Jail, Webb showed another text message and tried to clarify that he did not mean to threaten; instead, he meant both he and his wife would die eventually without health insurance.

Police officers also encountered Webb on July 30, according to the sheriff’s report, when he allegedly assaulted his wife by repeatedly rear-ending her car with his van as she drove on Viking Way, according to the sheriff’s report.

Webb is being held on $50,000 for threats/harassment and $25,000 bail for violation of a no contact order.