page_title: Richard McCaslin
section_title: The Phantom Patriot
hierarchical_section_title: Richard McCaslin / Background / The Phantom Patriot
caption_attribution_description: English: Richard McCaslin, dressed as the Phantom Patriot, left this calling card behind at the Owl Shrine inside of the Bohemian grove after being unable to destroy it during his raid. It was later returned to him by a friend, replete in an evidence bag, and published in one of McCaslin's zines. Leviticus 18:21 in the Bible reads as follow: "“Do not permit any of your children to be offered as a sacrifice to Molech, for you must not bring shame on the name of your God. I am the LORD." McCaslin's use of this tract is in direct reference to the claims of child sacrifice made by Alex Jones in his "Dark Secrets: Inside Bohemian Grove" video released in 2000. Phineas Priest appears refer to Old testament wrath McCaslin intended to visit upon Bohemian Grove.
context_page_description: Richard McCaslin was a former Marine, cosplayer, Batman stuntman at Six Flags AstroWorld, and convicted felon.
context_section_description: On January 19, 2002, McCaslin attempted a raid on the Bohemian Grove campground, just north of San Francisco, while dressed as his alter ego The Phantom Patriot. McCaslin later claimed to have been concerned about ritualistic child sacrifice taking place at Bohemian Grove, after seeing the documentary film Dark Secrets Inside Bohemian Grove, by radio show host Alex Jones. McCaslin planned to burn the massive owl statue at the Bohemian Grove, believing it to be emblematic of the Canaanite god Moloch, associated with child sacrifice. Before departing Austin on his "mission," McCaslin claimed to have stopped by the AC-TV public access studios and spoke directly with Alex Jones about Bohemian Gove, but says he made no indication of his plans to the host.
  Wearing a skull mask and a blue jumpsuit with "Phantom Patriot" written in red on his chest, McCaslin entered the campground, armed with "a pump-action rifle/shotgun hybrid, a .45 caliber handgun, a crossbow, a 2-foot-long sword, a knife and a fireworks mortar tube." McCaslin entered the camp in the winter, meaning the camp was deserted except for some staff.
  Upon entering the grove, McCaslin discovered that the owl was not made of redwood as previously believed. Since the owl was made of concrete, he was unable to destroy it. McCaslin also failed to interrupt the child sacrifices he thought he might uncover. Frustrated, McCaslin kicked in the door to a cabin and slept in it overnight.
  The following morning, McCaslin set a fire in the empty banquet hall, which in turn triggered an alarm. McCaslin encountered caretaker Fred Yeager and maintenance man Bob Hipkiss, but no guests were present.  Upon leaving the grounds. McCaslin pointed his MK-1 rifle at Yeager as he sat in his security booth, believing the phone Yeager held to be a gun. McCaslin encountered law enforcement officers that had surrounded his truck, and was later removed following a tense armed standoff. McCaslin later claimed in correspondence with author Tea Krulos that his thoughts about the slim possibility of seeing Chely Wright again kept him from turning violent. McCaslin was briefly held at the mental health ward of the Sonoma County Jail.
  He was later convicted on felony charges of arson, burglary, brandishing a weapon at a peace officer, and two counts for being armed and wearing a bulletproof vest. He was imprisoned in California.
caption: The Phantom Patriot's calling card left behind at Bohemian Grove
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