Pennsylvania Man on Trial for Beheading Father, Posting YouTube Rant
A chilling murder trial began this week in Pennsylvania, where 33-year-old Justin Mohn stands accused of shooting and beheading his father, 68-year-old Michael Mohn, and later posting a disturbing anti-government rant on YouTube featuring his father’s severed head.
Prosecutors say the killing took place on the night of January 30, 2024, at the family’s home in Levittown, Bucks County. Justin Mohn is facing over a dozen felony charges, including first- and second-degree murder. In his online video, Mohn reportedly justified the killing as a “citizen’s arrest,” claiming his father was a traitor. He held up his father’s plastic-wrapped head and declared, “Mike Mohn is in hell for being a traitor to his country.”
Michael Mohn was a semi-retired federal employee with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His wife, Denice Mohn, gave emotional testimony during the trial, recounting how she discovered her husband’s headless body in their first-floor bathroom. “I believe I screamed,” she told the court, adding that she immediately dialed 911.
According to testimony, Justin had returned to his parents’ home after a stint in Colorado, during which his mental health appeared to deteriorate. Denice Mohn told the court that her son had become angry and emotionally distant, often sending hostile texts. She and her husband had been financially supporting him, paying for his basic needs and encouraging him to seek mental health care.
Despite efforts to help him get back on track—including paying for a job interview—Justin allegedly used his father’s car to purchase the firearm later used in the murder. Just days before the killing, police had warned Denice about concerning anti-government posts on her son’s social media accounts.
Denice testified that she was unaware of her son’s radical beliefs until two Bensalem police officers visited their home. The officers told her to warn her son that further online threats could result in his arrest. It was a moment she described as a “red flag.”
On the day of the murder, the family had lunch together and believed Justin was turning a corner. “We were so happy he was going on an interview,” Denice recalled tearfully. “We were hoping for a brighter future for him.”
The trial, which is being held without a jury in a bench format, is expected to delve deeper into Justin Mohn’s mental state, possible motives, and the disturbing ideology that led to the horrific crime. Prosecutors argue that the attack was premeditated and rooted in irrational, extremist beliefs.
Justin Mohn has pleaded not guilty. The case continues in Bucks County court.
