One week before a deadly assault on a Michigan Mormon church, Thomas Jacob Sanford reportedly confessed to a city council candidate that he viewed the religion as “the anti-Christ.” The 40-year-old Iraq war veteran later crashed his truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, opened fire on worshippers, and set the building ablaze, killing four people and injuring eight before being killed by police.
City council candidate Kris Johns recounted a September 22 conversation with Sanford during a door-to-door campaign. Initially described as “extremely nice,” Sanford’s demeanor shifted when discussing religion. He allegedly railed against Mormons, calling them “the anti-Christ” and sharing personal grievances tied to a past relationship with a Mormon woman. Johns noted Sanford’s remarks aligned with “standard anti-LDS talking points” found on social media platforms.
The two spoke for 20 minutes about Sanford’s military service in Iraq, struggles with drug addiction, and his time living in Utah. Sanford also mentioned his son undergoing experimental therapy for a rare condition, according to a 2016 hospital article. Johns emphasized that Sanford never discussed politics or current events during their exchange.
Sanford’s mother, Brenda Walters-Sanford, posted a cryptic Facebook message two days before the attack criticizing “people who lack accountability,” which some speculate may have influenced her son. Forensic psychiatrist Carole Lieberman suggested the post could have acted as a trigger for Sanford, citing his history of PTSD from military service and a “dysfunctional childhood.”
The FBI is investigating the attack, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that FBI Director Kash Patel has linked Sanford’s motive to hatred toward Mormons. Sanford, who served in the Marines from 2004 to 2008, had no prior criminal record but was known to share pro-Trump content on social media. His wife and parents have not publicly commented on the incident.