A Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering his father and posting a video of the act online. Justin Mohn, 33, was found guilty of first-degree murder. Prosecutors reported that he shot his father with a gun he had recently bought, then decapitated him using a kitchen knife and a machete.
Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn remarked that Mohn showed “a complete and utter lack of remorse” after learning his sentence. She described the crime as “unimaginable” to the media.
During his trial, Mohn claimed that he was trying to make a “citizen’s arrest” for “treason” when he killed his father on January 30, 2024. He also posted a 14-minute video on YouTube, which was taken down hours later, showing him with his father’s severed head, referring to him by name.
Authorities discovered a machete in the bathtub and a kitchen knife at the crime scene. The father’s head was found in a plastic bag inside a cooking pot near a bedroom. Mohn was arrested later that day when police caught him trying to escape over a fence.
When arrested, he reportedly had a USB drive containing photos of federal buildings and instructions for making explosives. During the trial, Mohn’s mother testified that police had previously warned the family about his violent online behavior.
The video he posted also included rants about the government and various issues like immigration and the war in Ukraine. His mother stated that she and her husband had been financially supporting Mohn while he searched for a job. A defense expert mentioned that Mohn had attempted to contact Russia’s ambassador in hopes of seeking refuge.
Despite concerns about his mental state, he was deemed competent to stand trial. Prosecutors described the murder as “something straight out of a horror film,” emphasizing the chilling and calculated nature of the crime.
