FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. — The Bucks County man accused of murdering and decapitating his father and brandishing the victim's head on a YouTube video earlier this week allegedly committed the criminal act as part of a call to arms for followers to rise up against the federal government, law enforcement officials said in a press conference Friday.
Justin Mohn, 32, was taken into custody on the grounds of Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County Tuesday night. He allegedly drove his father's white Toyota Corolla through a barricade and climbed a barbed wire fence to gain access to the base, according to Bucks County law enforcement authorities.
Justin Mohn allegedly told police he was at the base to mobilize members of the Pennsylvania National Guard to "raise up arms against the federal government," according to Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn, whose office is prosecuting the case.
Mohn also said he wanted to speak to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro in an effort to convince him to join Mohn's uprising, Schorn said in a press conference Friday morning.
Mohn is charged with first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and possessing an instrument of crime in connection to the death of his father. He may face additional charges for forcing his way onto the grounds at Fort Indiantown Gap, law enforcement officials said.
At the press conference Friday, Schorn and Middletown Township Police Chief Joe Bartorilla provided a timeline of what they claim happened in the Middletown home where Justin Mohn lived with his father and mother, Denise, who made the grisly discovery of her husband's body around 7 p.m. Tuesday.
When police arrived at the Mohns' home at 7:06 p.m. on Jan. 30, they found the headless body of Michael Mohn in a downstairs bathroom. The elder Mohn's head was found bound in plastic wrap and stored in a cooking pot in the kitchen.
Justin Mohn was not at the home nor was Michael Mohn's white Toyota Corolla.
While on the scene, police received multiple 911 calls regarding a 14-minute video posted to YouTube by someone who identified himself as Justin Mohn.
During the video, entitled "Mohn's Militia: Call to Arms for American Patriots," Justin Mohn is allegedly seen brandishing his father's head, claiming his father, a former member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was "now in hell for eternity" for "being a traitor to his country," according to Schorn.
Justin Mohn identified himself in the video as "commander of Mohn's Militia," and called for followers to kill federal employees, Schorn said. He allegedly called for the arrest of all FBI, IRS and all other federal agents and judges, who were to be "tortured for information" prior to being executed, according to Schorn.
Mohn also allegedly provided the name and address of a federal judge, on whom he allegedly placed a bounty, Schorn said. He specifically excused all state employees from any violence during his alleged call to arms, according to Schorn.
The video was active on YouTube for several hours before being removed, Schorn said, although investigators were able to obtain a copy prior to its removal. The video had more than 5,000 views before it was taken down, she added.
"(The amount of time the video was accessible) was incredibly concerning," Schorn said. "It's quite horrifying how many views it had before it was taken down. The high number of views in such a short amount of time is a shot over the bow."
Investigators located Mohn at the Lebanon County base by "pinging" his cell phone, according to Bartorilla, who praised members of his department and members of the Fort Indiantown Gap Police Department for their quick actions in finding and arresting Mohn.
When he was found on the base, Mohn was armed with a 9mm handgun that had one spent round, Schorn said. He was taken into custody without incident.
Mohn allegedly purchased the handgun in Bristol Township one day before committing the murder, Schorn claimed. Mohn gave up his Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana card in order to be eligible for gun ownership, she said.
The prosecutor said Mohn's actions leading up to the act and in its aftermath showed evidence that he "was of clear mind in his purpose" and claimed it would be difficult for him to use an insanity defense based on the evidence collected so far.
"There's a difference between someone saying 'Wow, this guy's crazy' and being able to use insanity as a legal defense," she said, noting that Mohn had no prior mental health issues on record.
Bartorilla said his department knew of three previous encounters with Justin Mohn, dating back to 2011. His department was dispatched to the Mohn's home that year for a reported argument involving Justin Mohn in the drive way of the home, he said.
In 2019, Justin Mohn contacted Middletown Township Police, claiming he'd been threatened by an employee with Progressive Insurance, which he was suing at the time, Bartorilla said.
The most-recent contact came from a former employer of Mohn's in Philadelphia, who said the company was concerned about terminating Mohn's employment and calling for advice on how to proceed, Bartorilla said.
Mohn, a graduate of Neshaminy High School and Penn State University, worked in Colorado prior to his return to the area, but is currently unemployed, Schorn said.
The investigation is ongoing, officials said. An autopsy on Michael Mohn determined he died of a gunshot wound to the head, and the decapitation occurred after his death. Justin Mohn allegedly used a knife and a machete to remove his father's head, according to investigators.
"Our detectives were on it from the start and are still working," Bartorilla said. "It's not over just because an arrest was made."
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 8. Bucks County Deputy District Attorney Ashley C. Towhey and Assistant District Attorney Christine Sassane are prosecuting the case.