A consented search of Ezell’s phone on Thursday, according to the affidavit, revealed that its browser had accessed the signup page for ProtonMail just before 2 a.m. July 8 — minutes after there were internet searches, including on the website Reddit, seeking information on whether ProtonMail logged IP addresses and payment information.

Shortly after reaching the signup page, investigators from the OSBI reported they were able to determine that Ezell’s cellphone browser had accessed the inbox for the ProtonMail account maryjame@protonmail.com.

Less than a half hour after reviewing the inbox, Ezell reportedly sent a text message saying, “F---, text me when you are up. I just got a pretty threatening email about medical marijuana.” She had deleted her internet search history relating to her access of ProtonMail at that time and did so again after sending herself another threatening email, subsequently sending another text message to apparently the same undisclosed recipient, saying, “Another one.”

One of the emails sent to Ezell’s Health Department address on July 8 said, “We will stop YOU and your greed. Any way it takes to end your evil and protect what is ours. We will watch you.”