Alleged Cop Killer Eric Frein Charged With Terrorism, Murder
Accused cop killer Eric Frein now faces two terrorism charges on accompanying allegations that he killed a Pennsylvania state trooper as part of a "revolution."
Prosecutors added these new criminal charges Thursday, joining several other charges relating to the shooting death of one police officer and the severe wounding of another by Frein. NBC News reports that the terror allegations arose after investigators uncovered a suspicious letter on Frein's hard drive; the letter allegedly stated that "only passing through the crucible for another revolution can get us back to the liberties we once had."
How does this letter and other allegations explain the charges against Frein?
Terrorism, Murder, Assault Charges
In the second amended complaint, state prosecutors added two counts of terrorism, alleging that Frein's assault on his law-enforcement victims was motivated by an attempt to influence or coerce the course of government or the public.
And it wouldn't be hard to come to that conclusion if you read the letter that Frein allegedly wrote, addressed to "Mom and Dad." In the letter, Frein declares that "the times seems right for a spark to ignite a fire in the hearts of men," and that "what [he has] done has not be done before and it felt like it was worth a try." The terrorism counts are punishable by up to 40 years in prison a piece, potentially adding 80 years to Frein's future sentence if he's convicted on all charges.
The charging document continues to accuse Frein of first degree murder and assaulting a police officer, with a lengthy affidavit of probable cause explaining the gory alleged details of the case.
NBC News reports that one count of attempted homicide was dropped from the original complaint, although it is unclear how this revision reflects the case against Frein.