An Alabama man who claims to be Michael’s death angel has been charged with multiple felony crimes after threatening to “make the master’s harvest” at a Catholic monastery in Orange County. A large number of weaponsAuthorities said.
Joshua Michael Richardson, 38, was charged Wednesday with felonious threats and possession of six high-capacity gun magazines, brass knuckles and a sword, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Investigators also found knives, persistent guns, body armor, tape and ropes on the truck.
On August 19, at St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado Canyon received an email from Richardson, claiming he was a “pale rider”, the last of four riders in Revelation, who personifies death. Prosecutors said he also said he was the Angel of Death, Michael, referring to the Archangel Michael, whose mission was to escort the soul to the afterlife.
Richardson wrote that he would soon be heading to church from Alabama, and he chose St. Michael’s Abbey as it was one of the few places of worship to celebrate Michaelmas. The church plans to recognize St. Michael’s feast on September 29, which celebrates the role of the Archangel as a faithful defender.
Richardson appeared at St. Michael’s Abbey on August 26 and attended the afternoon service. He allegedly followed the pastor into a private area of the church and told him: “He came to do the job of the master to separate the weak from the weeds, and he rode with Alabama on a white pale pale pale horse,” the prosecutor said.
Two days later, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department received a report about the threat email and arrested Richardson.
“Although incidents like this may feel uneasy, they also emphasize the power of the community,” the Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. “If something seems to be something wrong, say something. Trust your intuition and report suspicious activity, whether it’s a weird message, unusual behavior or something incorrect.”
Richardson’s arrest occurred Photographed in Catholic School In Minneapolis, two children were killed and 21 others were injured.
The prosecutor succeeded in arguing that Richardson should have held without bail because he posed a serious danger to the public. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.
“No one should worship because of the fear that a stranger would walk through the door with his own Judgment Day and the intention of determining who lives and who dies,” said OC Dist. Todd Spitzer in a statement. “The threat to a chapel is an attack on the place of worship every week, and we refuse to allow threats and terror to discourage anyone from practicing their faith without fear.”
St. Michael’s Abbey describes itself as the regular community of Canon in Prémontré, in the Archangel St. Michael’s Abbey, home to dozens of parishioners living in the monastery compound.
