Pennsylvania man accused of beheading father and posting gory video to stand trial
Justin D. Mohn, 33, faces charges of murder, abuse of a corpse, terrorism related crimes and other offenses for the 2024 killing of Michael F. Mohn at the Levittown home where they lived with the defendant's mother. She found her husband's body in a bathroom.
Prosecutors have said Justin Mohn shot his father with a newly purchased pistol, then decapitated him with a kitchen knife and machete. The 14-minute YouTube video was live for several hours before it was removed.
Mohn was armed with a handgun when arrested later that day after allegedly climbing a 20-foot (6-meter) fence at Fort Indiantown Gap, the state's National Guard headquarters. He had hoped to get the soldiers to 'mobilize the Pennsylvania National Guard to raise arms against the federal government,' Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said at a news conference last year.
Mohn had a USB device containing photos of federal buildings and apparent instructions for making explosives when arrested, authorities have said.
He also had expressed violent anti-government rhetoric in writings he published online, and the YouTube video included rants about the government, immigration and the border, fiscal policy, urban crime and the war in Ukraine.
Mohn's defense attorney, Steven M. Jones, said last week he did not anticipate the case being resolved with a plea deal.
Michael Mohn, who was 68, had been an engineer with the geoenvironmental section of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In the video, Justin Mohn described his father as a 20-year federal employee and called him a traitor.
During a competency hearing last year, a defense expert said Mohn wrote a letter to Russia's ambassador to the United States seeking a deal to give Mohn refuge and apologizing to President Vladimir Putin for claiming to be the czar of Russia.
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Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Unhinged son Justin Mohn learns fate for decapitating father in live YouTube video
Unhinged son and conspiracy theorist Justin Mohn has been sentenced to life in prison for killing his father and showing the decapitated head in a YouTube video. Justin Mohn, 33, murdered and decapitated his father, Michael Mohn, 68, in January 2024 and left the body in their Levittown home, which is a suburb outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After the brutal slaying, Mohn held his father's head in a YouTube video and called for violent attacks against federal officials. His father served in the Army and was a federal employee with the Army Corps of Engineers. A year and a half later, Mohn has learned his fate for the stomach-churning crimes as Common Pleas Judge Stephen A. Corr delivered the verdict of guilty for first-degree murder on Friday. Mohn was also convicted of terrorism, marking the first defendant found guilty of the charges in Pennsylvania, according to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office. In addition, the unhinged son was convicted of possession of a weapon, criminal use of a communication facility, terroristic threats, defiant trespassing, and abuse of a corpse. Prosecutors presented evidence, including the YouTube video, which was taken down hours after Mohn posted it, DNA evidence, testimony from over 15 witnesses, the son's handwritten letters from jail confessing to the crime, and a disturbing online search history. 'This case is about how Justin Mohn assassinated his father and callously used him as a prop to force the government to meet his demands,' Deputy District Attorney Ashley Towhey said in her opening statements. Powerful testimonies Mohn's mother, Denice, delivered a powerful testimony in court, noting that her husband was a loving and supportive father to their children. Denice found her husband's 'crumpled' body in their home after she returned from work on January 30. She screamed when she saw her dead husband, prompting neighbor Jim Carnley to run to the home. Carnley made the grim discovery that Michael was decapitated and called 911. The audio was played in court and revealed the disturbing screams from Denice in the background. When Middletown Township Police arrived on the scene, they found the decapitated head in the bathroom with a machete and a large knife nearby. An autopsy later revealed that Michael was first shot in the head before he was decapitated. There were no signs of defensive injuries. 'I am tortured at knowing what Justin was capable of doing to his father, who had unconditional love for him,' Denice's victim impact statement read. 'I hope Justin is never given another opportunity in his life to hurt anyone else or to distribute his hateful ideologies.' She testified that her son struggled to find employment, so she and her husband allowed him to stay in her home. Denice added that Mohn blamed the federal government for his inability to hold down a job. Mohn's sister, Stephanie, read a victim impact statement before his sentencing, telling the court, 'My whole family feels violated by the defendant's extremely calculated and premeditated betrayal and from the posting of the horrifying video that he published online for thousands to see.' 'The awareness that my own brother is capable of such atrocities is terrifying; that person we grew up with is long gone.' Mohn's brother, Zachary, spoke to his parents' 'strong set of values' and said that they consistently provided for their children. 'For him to target my father despite of all that compassion showed he did not care what he did to the world or to others,' Zachary said. 'Any show of remorse would be an appeal to emotions he doesn't feel, beyond them being used as a lever for his manipulation.' Shocking evidence Evidence was presented in court to demonstrate Mohn's violent intentions and premeditation. First Assistant District Attorney Edward Louka stated in his closing arguments that Mohn's disturbing pattern of violence extended beyond the chilling YouTube video. Letters found at the crime scene and an online history detailing extremist beliefs were used to illustrate Mohn's 'calculated intent.' Bucks County Detective Eric Landamia testified that investigators found evidence that Mohn was planning a violent attack for five years. Detectives found a 'battle plan' belonging to Mohn that included instructions for building explosives and a list of potential targets he believed were 'traitors.' The explosive evidence detailed Mohn's sick intentions to target federal judges and politicians who went against his agenda as a 'white, straight, Christian male.' A shocking 'to-do list' was also presented in the trial, where Mohn directly referenced killing his father. The YouTube video was played in court, revealing Mohn's unhinged grievances against the government. He claimed that he was the leader of 'Mohn's Militia' and called for a 'revolution,' inciting violence against federal employees. Mohn's defense Mohn testified in the trial, claiming that he didn't mean to kill his father, but only wanted to perform a citizen's arrest. He said that his father committed treason against his country. Mohn said that the altercation escalated when his father threatened to kill him. He did confess to shooting his father and using a kitchen knife and a machete to decapitate Michael on the stand. Prosecutors dismissed his defense, with First Assistant District Attorney Edward Louka calling Mohn's testimony 'complete and utter nonsense.' 'He [Mohn] ambushed his dad when he was most vulnerable … he walked in and executed him,' Louka argued. 'His plan was to murder a longtime federal employee, his father, and order the murder of other federal employees for his warped belief that the government adopt his policies above all else.' Mohn was given an opportunity to show remorse, but he declined, blaming his failures once again on the federal government. 'I don't feel guilty for what I did, but I am sorry my family went through what they did because of the federal government's actions and my reaction to it,' he said. Mohn also gave a cryptic warning to Judge Corr, telling him that he would be judged when he met God. After the verdict, Mohn said it was 'not the outcome I wanted, but it's okay,' Levittown Now reported. Mohn's defense attorney, Steve Jones, spoke to reporters outside the courtroom. He called the facts of the case 'horrendous.' 'But the key takeaway is that Justin is still alive,' Jones said, adding that the defense team prevented the prosecution from seeking the death penalty. During the trial, Jones slipped a note to Mohn, prompting the haphazard apology on the stand. When asked whether Jones pushed Mohn to apologize, the defense attorney replied, 'Whether or not he was going to apologize for anything, any remorse that he might've felt, that was up to Justin, and Justin made his feelings known in court.' Jones told reporters that Mohn was 'serious about everything he did.' He said that his team would continue to represent Mohn if he decides to appeal the decision. Jones praised Judge Corrs and said the defense respected the court's decision. He added that Mohn has 'some real mental health issues.' 'The conviction of Justin Mohn closes a dark chapter, but the scars left by his monstrous actions will undoubtedly remain,' District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said in a statement. 'This conviction reflects the tireless efforts of law enforcement and our dedicated prosecution team, who meticulously pieced together the layers of this disturbing case to ensure accountability for these horrific crimes,' the statement continued. 'While we cannot undo the pain inflicted, we hope this verdict provides some measure of justice and closure for Michael Mohn's family.'
BBC News
17 hours ago
- BBC News
Minors among 200 suspected illegal immigrants detained at California marijuana farm
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