The trial for a Pennsylvania man accused of beheading his father and sharing a disturbing video of the crime on YouTube began Monday, July 7.
Justin Mohn, 33, is charged with first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, possession of an instrument of crime, and terrorism-related offenses in connection with the gruesome killing of his father, 68-year-old Michael F. Mohn, in January 2024.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE, police discovered Michael’s decapitated body in the downstairs bathroom of the family’s home in Levittown on January 30. A machete was found in the bathtub, and a large kitchen knife was also recovered nearby. Investigators found Michael’s head inside a plastic bag placed in a cooking pot in a first-floor bedroom.
Authorities say Mohn posted a 14-minute video to YouTube titled “Mohn’s Militia – Call to Arms for American Patriots.” The video allegedly shows him holding up his father’s severed head, identifying it as Michael Mohn and declaring, “He is now in hell for eternity.”
According to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, Mohn used the video to urge militias and “patriots” across the country to murder federal employees. He also allegedly listed specific federal officials and a U.S. District Court judge as targets for capture and public execution.
Michael Mohn had worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, prosecutors said. An autopsy revealed that he was shot in the head before being decapitated.
Following the alleged murder, Mohn fled in his father’s 2009 Toyota Corolla while armed with a handgun. Investigators tracked his cellphone to the National Guard Training Center in Fort Indiantown Gap, where prosecutors say he intended to convince military personnel to turn against the federal government.
Investigators also discovered a USB drive in Mohn’s possession that contained photographs of federal buildings and what appeared to be bomb-making instructions.
The trial is expected to continue over the coming days.
