A man from Alabama has been charged with multiple felonies after authorities say he drove over 2,000 miles to a California monastery and made threats referencing biblical figures. According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Joshua Michael Richardson, 38, of Jemison, Alabama, allegedly sent threatening emails to St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado on August 19.
Prosecutors said Richardson identified himself as “Michael the Angel of Death” and called himself the “‘rider of the pale horse,’ a reference to the last of the Four Horsemen in the Book of Revelation.” In his messages about “the end of the world,” he claimed he was “‘sent to do the Lord’s reaping before his harvest.’” Prosecutors added: “According to the Book of Revelation, the rider of the pale horse is the personification of Death who is given the power to kill through the sword, famine, disease, and wild animals, and is closely followed by Hades, who swallows the souls of the condemned.”
Richardson reportedly targeted St. Michael’s Abbey because it is “one of the few churches in the nation that still practices Michaelmas,” prosecutors said. The abbey is scheduled to celebrate Michaelmas on September 29.
In an email statement sent September 4 to McClatchy News, a spokesperson for St. Michael’s Abbey said questions should be directed to law enforcement and stated: “the Norbertine community is grateful to almighty God for His continued protection, and for the hard work and dedication of our local law enforcement.”
A week after sending emails warning he would travel from Alabama soon, Richardson attended an afternoon service at St. Michael’s Abbey where dozens live on site. Afterward, prosecutors allege Richardson followed a priest into a private area and told him he came “to do the Lord’s work, to separate the weak from the weeds,” claiming again that he rode his white pale horse from Alabama.
The priest contacted authorities following this encounter. Two days later Richardson was arrested in Santa Monica. A search by deputies found body armor, high-capacity magazines, brass knuckles and knives in his vehicle. Additional items recovered included several knives, a stun gun, duct tape, rope, walk-talkies and other tactical gear; no guns or ammunition were found.
Deputies emphasized vigilance among community members: “While incidents like this can feel unsettling, they also highlight the power of community. If something seems off, say something. Trust your instincts and report suspicious activity whether it is a strange message or unusual behavior.”
Richardson faces felony charges including criminal threats as well as possession offenses related to weapons and tactical gear; he also faces one misdemeanor count for possession of a large-capacity magazine.
District Attorney Todd Spitzer commented: “The walls of our churches are not just symbols of sanctuary; they represent the most sacred places of worship and peace. No one should have to worship in fear that a stranger would walk through their door with intent to carry out their own day of judgement and determine who lives and who dies.”
Richardson remains held without bail pending arraignment scheduled for September 4.
Silverado is located about 45 miles southeast from Los Angeles.
