An Alabama man who told church officials he was the "Angel of Death" was arrested after sending threatening emails to St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado, California, and being found with a cache of weapons in his vehicle, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said.
Prosecutors said Joshua Michael Richardson, 38, of Jemison, Alabama, sent the emails in mid-August in which he described himself as the "rider of the pale horse" and said he was "sent to do the Lord's reaping before his harvest." Richardson also allegedly claimed to be the Archangel Michael, a figure in Roman Catholic belief who is said to assist souls at death and weigh a person's deeds on Judgment Day. According to the DA's office, Richardson arrived at the abbey on Aug. 26, attended a service and followed a priest into a private area.
The emails referenced the Feast of St. Michael, observed at the abbey from Sept. 28 to Nov. 8, and warned that Richardson would travel there to attend that observance, prosecutors said. The Book of Revelation describes the rider of the pale horse as having power to kill by sword, famine and disease; the DA's office cited that symbolism in describing Richardson's messages.
Authorities detained Richardson after discovering the weapons cache in his vehicle. The DA's office described the haul as a collection of weapons but did not provide a detailed inventory in its public statement. Officials have not announced formal charges in a court filing available to the public at the time of the statement.
Court records and local law enforcement statements indicate the investigation was opened after the abbey alerted authorities to the threatening emails. Orange County prosecutors declined to provide additional specifics about the timing or location of Richardson's arrest beyond the information released in their statement.
Religious institutions and law enforcement officials have in recent years increased coordination when threats are made against houses of worship. St. Michael’s Abbey, a Catholic Benedictine monastery located roughly 50 miles south of Los Angeles, drew attention from authorities after the emailed threats and Richardson's reported presence at the Aug. 26 service.
The DA's office said it was managing the case and would provide updates as charges are filed and proceedings move forward. Representatives for Richardson could not be reached through publicly available contact information and no plea or court appearance was disclosed in the office's released materials.