A Pennsylvania man who brutally murdered and beheaded his father before uploading a grotesque video of the act to YouTube has been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, in a case that prosecutors described as "unimaginable" and "straight out of a horror film."
Justin D. Mohn, 33, was found guilty following a bench trial before Bucks County Judge Stephen A. Corr, who delivered a scathing ruling on Mohn’s actions and motivations during the January 2024 killing of his father, Michael F. Mohn, 68, at their home in Levittown, a quiet suburb of Philadelphia.
According to court testimony and evidence presented by the Bucks County District Attorney's Office, the younger Mohn fatally shot his father with a recently purchased firearm, then used a kitchen knife and machete to sever his head. He subsequently filmed a 14-minute video of the mutilated body and uploaded it to YouTube in a shocking attempt to broadcast his extremist beliefs.
The video, which remained online for several hours before being removed, featured rambling monologues in which Mohn spoke about a wide range of topics, including U.S. government corruption, immigration, urban violence, economic policies, and even the war in Ukraine. Throughout the footage, he referred to his father, a respected federal engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Philadelphia District as a "traitor."
In what prosecutors described as a twisted justification, Mohn claimed the gruesome murder was intended as a message to intimidate federal employees, whom he demanded resign. He also made bizarre claims that his father had committed "treason" and that his execution was a form of justice.
During the sentencing, District Attorney Jennifer Schorn did not hold back in condemning the calculated and cold nature of the crime.
“It’s unimaginable what the defendant did to his father and to his family. I know this verdict provides some level of justice, but it will never heal their wounds,” Schorn said. “We are satisfied that this was the right outcome to guarantee the safety of the community from Justin Mohn.”
Emotional victim impact statements delivered by family members painted a stark contrast between the image of the victim in the video and the man they knew. Michael Mohn was described as a humble, intelligent, and kind-hearted individual who enjoyed simple pleasures such as reading, playing guitar, and staying active. He had been a devoted husband and father who, despite his son’s troubling behavior, had continued to support him both financially and emotionally.
Graphic evidence presented at trial included the disturbing video, forensic images, and chilling details of the crime scene. The judge offered those in the courtroom a chance to step out before the material was shown.
The court heard how Mohn had been obsessed with anti-government ideologies and had posted extensively online about violent resistance, conspiracy theories, and dissatisfaction with the U.S. political system. A USB drive found on him at the time of his arrest contained images of federal buildings and materials resembling bomb-making instructions.
In a bizarre post-crime act, Mohn was arrested after scaling a fence at Fort Indiantown Gap, a military facility, where he appeared to be seeking further confrontation. He was reportedly carrying the USB drive and a letter addressed to the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C., apologizing to Vladimir Putin for previously claiming to be the "czar of Russia" and requesting asylum.
Mohn, who briefly represented himself during the trial, argued that he had acted under the belief he was "arresting" his father for treason, a defense that was swiftly dismissed by the court. His attorney, Steven M. Jones, acknowledged the disturbing nature of the case but declined to comment on whether an appeal would be pursued.
The prosecution, who had initially considered seeking the death penalty, ultimately pushed for life imprisonment, citing Mohn’s "complete and utter lack of remorse" and the extreme premeditation involved.
Mohn was convicted not only of first-degree murder but also of:
- Possession of an instrument of crime
- Abuse of a corpse
- Gun-related offences
- Terroristic threats
- Criminal use of a communication facility
- Defiant trespass
Denice Mohn, Michael’s wife and Justin’s mother, recounted during her testimony the mental toll the incident has taken on the family. She shared how she and her husband had continued to try and help Justin through his unemployment and emotional struggles, even when police had previously visited the home to warn him about his online activity.
“We tried everything to help him,” she said through tears. “But in the end, we were blindsided. Michael didn’t deserve this. No one does.”
With the case concluded, Justin Mohn will now spend the rest of his life behind bars, his name etched into Pennsylvania's criminal history books not only for the horror of his crime, but for the warped ideology that fueled it.
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