‘I’m terrified of spiritual zealots,’ Anthony Nephew wrote months earlier than capturing
A Minnesota man on the heart of a murder-suicide that left 5 folks lifeless, together with his two sons, expressed a hatred for Christianity on social media previous to the shootings.
Anthony Nephew, 46, was discovered lifeless final week from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his residence in Duluth, Minnesota, after killing his spouse and son, and his ex-partner and their son, authorities mentioned.
Nephew killed his former accomplice, 47-year-old Erin Abramson, and their 15-year-old son, Jacob Nephew, inside Abramson’s residence within the 6000 block of Tacony Road in Duluth, Police Chief Mike Ceynowa revealed throughout a Nov. 8 press convention.
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Following the preliminary discovery of the victims, investigators shifted their focus to Nephew’s residence. Upon arrival, legislation enforcement discovered Nephew, alongside together with his spouse, Kathryn Nephew, 45, and their younger son, Oliver Nephew, 7, all lifeless. Authorities say Anthony Nephew died by suicide.
Whereas the motive stays below investigation, Nephew was identified to have demonstrated “a pattern of mental health issues,” Ceynowa said.
A CP review of Anthony Nephew’s Facebook profile revealed several anti-Christian views, including posts in which he expressed fear about Christian influence over a second Trump administration.
In response to an August report in which a police officer shot a woman after being “rebuked in Jesus’ name,” Nephew blamed faith for his psychological well being issues.
“My mental health and the world can no longer peacefully coexist, and a lot of the reason is religion,” he wrote in July. “I am terrified of religious zealots inflicting their misguided beliefs on me and my family.”
Nephew additionally claimed to have “intrusive thoughts of being burned at the stake as a witch, or crucified on a burning cross,” in addition to “having people actually believe that I or my child are Satan or, the anti-Christ or whatever their favorite color of boogie man they are afraid are this week.”
Just a few days later, he in contrast Christianity to the Ku Klux Klan, writing, “Christian is a dog whistle, for white sheets, and pointy hats.”
In one other put up on July 28, Nephew linked to a Reuters report on President-elect Donald Trump’s remark that in the event that they voted for him in November, they “don’t have to vote again.”
“How’s that call for turning down the rhetoric going?” Nephew wrote. “Your freedom of religion, in no way implies you can force it on others. This is exactly why I left the church. You’re not interested in worshiping God, you’re just pushing religious extremism.”
He additionally expressed weird views about spirituality: in an Oct. 17 put up, Nephew speculated that “if there is a higher power” that people might “learn to steer our way through the universe by parking and controlling a celestial mass in front of the sun” with a view to “give our civilization access to a nearly infinite source of energy, and potentially counter the threats of alien civilizations. […] It’s a better ending to the Bible, than Revelation,” he added.
Nephew, who shared photographs in help of President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris and others, additionally appeared to help Harris’ failed presidential bid.
In a July 23 put up, he wrote that Harris might probably be on her approach to the White Home “by the grace of God.” She was defeated by Trump on Nov. 5.
Nephew additionally appeared to help abortion rights: in a June 2022 put up, shortly after the U.S. Supreme Courtroom overturned Roe v. Wade, he supplied his “home and resources” to anybody in an “anti-abortion state.”
That very same month, Nephew referred to himself as a “survivor” of suicide in a put up during which he shared a nationwide suicide hotline quantity.
A memorial run fundraiser marketing campaign for Abramson and Jacob Nephew raised over $5,225 as of Friday afternoon.
Duluth, which has a inhabitants of about 90,000 residents, is roughly 135 miles north of Minneapolis.
“Well bless their hearts.”
