Remington shooter released

As Pastor Tim Remington sat in his office at The Altar Church on Tuesday afternoon, he reflected on the release from prison that morning of the man who shot him six times 10 years ago.

That same man is set to live at a transitional home in Post Falls.

"I'm not fearful," Remington said.

Rather, he is hopeful.

"I want to get him saved," Remington said. "It would be really cool to minister with him."

Kyle A. Odom, 40, pleaded guilty in 2017 to charges of aggravated battery and a firearm enhancement, both felonies.

Odom received a 25-year prison sentence for the shooting, in accordance with a plea deal that stipulated he serve no more than that, with parole eligibility after 10 years and credit for the more than 600 days he had already served.  

Before receiving his sentence in November 2017, Odom said he was remorseful for his actions and explained the delusions that prompted him to shoot Remington, which he believed were real.

At the sentencing hearing, Odom said he was flying back to Idaho from Texas when a man on the plane told him to buy a cellphone and wait for a call. Odom said Remington called him, setting off a series of events that seemed supernatural to him and culminated in the shooting. 

Odom, then 32 years old and a former Marine combat veteran, shot Remington in the church parking lot on the 900 block of East Best Avenue, emptying a 12-round magazine before fleeing on March 6, 2016. Remington was shot through the right side, through his back and in his right hand with a .45-caliber handgun. Investigators later determined that the shooting was meticulously planned. 

After the shooting, Odom traveled to Washington, D.C., where security officers arrested him after he threw documents and flash drives over a fence onto the White House lawn. 

At that time, Odom thought he was tormented by “hypersexual” mind-controlling Martians, according to a 30-page manifesto he sent to Idaho news outlets. 

“Odom has a documented history of severe mental illness and previously claimed Pastor Remington was a Martian from an ancient civilization and that he had been instructed to kill him,” said a Coeur d’Alene Police Department officer awareness bulletin obtained by The Press. “Odom is a former U.S. Marine and has firearms training.” 

Remington later told the story of his survival and recovery in “Gun Shot Witness: The Tim Remington Story,” by Amy Joy Hess.  

Remington visited Odom three times while he was in prison, the last time about five years ago. They played chess (Remington won), and Odom talked about how an "entity" took control of him.

Remington said Odom seemed to be improving.

“He had it right when I was there," Remington said.

During one conversation, he said Odom told him, "Obviously, you're not the enemy."

“I forgave the guy,” Remington said.

But he was disappointed he wasn't at Odom's parole hearing. He said he wasn't notified of the hearing and only received a letter informing him of Odom's scheduled release three weeks ago.

"I should have been there," Remington said. "They should not have released him without me being present to give my opinion. That's the only thing that bothers me. I’m not happy with the system. But as far as him, I still want to see him saved."

He said he asked to see Odom before his release. Odom, however, did not want to see him.

According to the Commission of Pardons and Parole, notifications were sent to Remington and the prosecuting attorney’s office, informing them of the parole hearing date and their ability to testify at the hearing or submit a written statement, if they chose to do so. 

Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney Stan Mortensen said Tuesday that his office was in contact with Remington after receiving notice from the parole commission. 

Idaho law requires the Commission of Pardons and Parole to consider incarcerated individuals for parole when they are within six months of completing the fixed part of their sentences. 

Odom’s parole date was Tuesday, so the commission considered him for parole and ultimately granted it at the end of September 2025. During the hearing, Odom told commissioners that he “felt regret for harming an innocent person” and believed he was “no longer a threat to society,” having improved each year of his incarceration, according to hearing minutes. 

“He was very sorry and did regret his decisions,” the minutes said. 

When deciding whether to grant parole, commissioners are required to consider factors including current risk assessments, criminal history, program participation, institutional misconduct, other individual characteristics related to the likelihood of future offending, and restitution. 

Asked what he would have told the parole board, Remington said he would have done his best "to make sure he gets the help he needs when he gets out. That would have been my whole thing. I want to be a part of that help."

Remington said he hopes he and Odom will be able to stand together someday and share the story of what happened. He still prays for Odom and his family.

"I want people to see what God's going to do with him," he said.

The Coeur d'Alene police bulletin indicated that Odom's family has expressed concerns about his mental health and his readiness to be released from prison.

Upon release, Odom will reside in transitional housing in Post Falls, according to the bulletin. He will wear an ankle monitor and is only authorized to reside at a specific address as a condition of release. 

Odom’s release conditions require him to obtain a mental health evaluation and follow all directives for treatment. He is not allowed to have any contact with the victim in the case.

Extra patrol has been requested at the Altar Church and at a residential address in Coeur d’Alene, according to the police bulletin.

Remington said that a male called the church several times recently and left the same message each time: The demonic voices that manipulated Odom were doing the same to him.

They don't know the caller's identity and reported the calls to the police.

Remington said he is taking precautions but is not afraid.

"I don’t know how this is going to work out, but I know God has a way," Remington said.

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Ralph Bartholdt contributed to this report.

    

Kyle Odom