In a horrifying case that has shocked the nation, a Pennsylvania man named Justin Mohn is facing charges after allegedly murdering and decapitating his own father and then posting a disturbing 14-minute video on YouTube. The video featured Mohn holding his father’s severed head and calling for the public execution of federal employees, framing the act as a political statement rather than a personal crime. Prosecutors assert that Mohn acted with full awareness and intention, marking this case as one of the most extreme and deliberate acts of domestic violence and extremism in recent history.
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A Brutal Crime Discovered in Levittown
The gruesome scene unfolded in Levittown, a suburban community located about 25 miles northeast of central Philadelphia. On the evening of Tuesday, January 30, 2024, authorities were called to the home of 32-year-old Justin Mohn after his mother discovered the mutilated body of her husband, 68-year-old Michael Mohn, in the first-floor bathroom.
When officers arrived, they found a scene that was nothing short of shocking. Michael’s head had been wrapped in plastic and placed inside a large pot. A machete and a large kitchen knife were discovered in the bathtub, presumably the tools used in the dismemberment. According to court documents, the elder Mohn had been shot in the head before being decapitated a detail that prosecutors say indicates a premeditated execution rather than a crime of passion.
Michael Mohn was a longtime federal employee, having worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for two decades. His dedication to public service would later become the focus of his son’s deranged justification for the murder.
The YouTube Video: A Militia Commander’s Manifesto
Shortly after committing the act, Justin Mohn uploaded a chilling 14-minute video to YouTube titled “Mohn’s Militia – Call to Arms for American Patriots.” In the video, Mohn refers to himself as “the commander of America’s national network of militia,” and holds up his father’s severed head, encased in a plastic bag.
The video Justin Mohn uploaded to YouTube
Uncensored full video of Justin Mohn
He then calls on “patriots across the USA” to publicly execute federal government employees whom he accuses of betraying their country. He makes it clear that his father, who served in the federal government for 20 years, was not exempt. “He is now in hell for eternity,” Mohn says coldly in the video.
More disturbingly, Mohn went on to dox the home address of a federal judge and “put a bounty” on the heads of unnamed federal employees. While he targeted federal workers specifically, he stated that his threats did not extend to state government employees. The video quickly gained traction online, amassing over 5,000 views before YouTube removed it. Authorities later described their alarm at the reach and impact the video had in such a short period of time.
Charges and Legal Strategy
Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn held a press conference on Friday to announce the formal charges against Justin Mohn. He is facing first-degree murder, possession of instruments of crime, and abuse of a corpse.
In her statements, Schorn emphasized that Mohn acted with complete awareness and purpose. “It was evident to us that he was of clear mind in his purpose and what he was doing,” she said. “That’s an important fact to us in his prosecution.” She dismissed the possibility of a mental health defense, pointing out that Mohn has no diagnosed mental illness and even demonstrated rational behavior in the planning and execution of the crime.
One of the key pieces of evidence supporting premeditation is Mohn’s legal firearm purchase just one day before the killing. He used a medical marijuana card to qualify for the purchase, a move Schorn interpreted as further proof of his calculated mindset.
Flight to Fort Indiantown Gap and Arrest
After the murder, Mohn fled the scene in his father’s white Toyota Corolla and headed to Fort Indiantown Gap, a National Guard training facility located about 100 miles away. Once there, he crashed through barricades and even climbed a barbed wire fence in an apparent attempt to enter the premises.
Authorities tracked Mohn by pinging his cellphone, and he was arrested without incident. At the time of his arrest, he was armed with a 9mm handgun, which was missing one round possibly the bullet used to kill his father. Mohn reportedly told officers that he had gone to the base in hopes of convincing the National Guard to join his crusade against the federal government. He also said he wanted to speak directly with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
A History of Radical Beliefs
Though the murder itself was shocking, investigators soon uncovered a complex history of radicalism and perceived victimhood in Mohn’s past. A Penn State graduate with a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness management, Mohn had sued the federal government twice over student loan issues in recent years. In one of the lawsuits, he argued that affirmative action policies had cost him job opportunities, referring to himself as an “overeducated white man.”
Both of these lawsuits were dismissed by the court. Judge Mark A. Kearney, who presided over the second case, emphasized that the federal government was immune from the kind of fraud claims Mohn was attempting to make.
Mohn also had prior interactions with law enforcement, though none suggested a history of violence. In 2011, police were called to the family’s home over a domestic argument when Mohn was just 19. In 2019, he contacted police himself to report threats from a coworker at Progressive Insurance, where he had previously worked.
During his time at Progressive, Mohn had applied for a copywriting job but was denied. He later claimed the decision was discriminatory, and the situation escalated to the point where he allegedly kicked open a door, resulting in a leave of absence.
Artistic Persona and Extremist Content
Despite his apparent descent into violent extremism, Mohn maintained a public persona as a creative artist. He released two music albums. The Story of Humanity in 2017 and Colorfunkinrado in 2018 and described himself as a visionary attempting to make positive change through his art.
His now-removed Amazon page listed him as the author of seven books, including one titled America’s Coming Bloody Revolution. The page boasted that Mohn’s life story was “unbelievable” and that his works were a reflection of his deep experiences and desire for reform.
However, in hindsight, many of his public postings appear to be warning signs. The themes of rebellion, revolution, and victimhood run through both his legal filings and creative output. What may have once been dismissed as radical self-expression ultimately manifested in horrific violence.
Public and Institutional Responses
In response to the video and Mohn’s arrest, DA Schorn condemned the glorification of violence online and the platforms that inadvertently amplify it. The fact that Mohn’s video reached thousands before being taken down has prompted renewed scrutiny on how social media platforms handle violent content.
Law enforcement officials are treating the case not just as a murder, but also as a wake-up call about the growing threat of domestic extremism. The use of militia rhetoric, targeted threats against government officials, and glorification of violence all match patterns seen in radicalized individuals across the country.
The Justin Mohn case is a chilling example of what can happen when radical ideology, personal grievances, and access to weapons converge. His deliberate and brutal actions, coupled with a call for national violence, have turned a family tragedy into a public crisis with legal, political, and societal implications.
As Mohn awaits his preliminary hearing scheduled for February 8, the case is already prompting conversations about domestic terrorism, mental health, social media responsibility, and the dangers of political extremism. Prosecutors remain steadfast in their assessment: this was not the work of a mentally unstable individual, but of a man fully aware of what he was doing and proud of it.
