PALMYRA TOWNSHIP -- Prosecutors filed two charges of terrorism against accused cop killer Eric Frein.
Thursday, the Pike County District Attorney said new evidence found earlier this month, led authorities to now charge Frein with terrorism.
Accused cop killer Eric Frein is now facing two counts of terrorism for the ambush at the State Police Barracks at Blooming Grove two months ago that left one trooper dead and another seriously wounded.
The Pike County District Attorney filed those new charges Thursday afternoon, during a hearing at a magistrate's office near Hawley. Frein appeared by video conference.
“This is the first time that I'm aware of that charge has been used in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said D.A. Ray Tonkin.
The D.A. says those charges were filed based on a letter Frein reportedly wrote to his parents.
According to the criminal complaint, that letter was found on a thumb drive taken from a hangar where police say Frein stashed his supplies.
Police say that letter was created in December and last accessed on October 6.
In the letter, Frein reportedly wrote:
“Our nation is far from what it was and what it should be….only passing through the crucible of another revolution can get us back the liberties we once had. I do not pretend to know what that revolution will look like or even if it would be successful.”
Frein goes on writing:
“Tension is high at the moment and the time seems right for a spark to ignite a fire in the hearts of men. What I have done has not been done before and it felt like it was worth a try.”
He ends with:
“I am sorry… You guys are great parents... I am just not a good son. I squandered so much opportunity and support......maybe this is just the final squander.”
Read the complete letter HERE.
The criminal complaint also states, on the night of Frein's arrest, Frein told police he shot the troopers because he wanted a change in government, and that the murder of the trooper was an assassination and taking that action would wake people up.
“We believe, as detailed in the criminal complaint and the affidavit, evidence we've uncovered supports the charge, and that's why we have filed the criminal complaint with those criminal charges,” said Tonkin.
Prosecutors also dropped one of two charges of attempted homicide for the shooting of Trooper Douglass.
Frein has a preliminary hearing scheduled for December 9.
