The man who allegedly shot two Pennsylvania state troopers, one fatally, before leading authorities on a nearly seven-week manhunt in the wilderness was charged with terrorism on Thursday.
Eric Frein, who already faced a first-degree murder charge, called the Sept. 12 killing of Cpl. Byron Dickson an "assassination" and told State Police he wanted to "wake people up," according to court papers.
The two counts of terrorism stem from Frein allegedly shooting the two troopers with purpose of influencing the policy of government and affecting the conduct of government, according to a criminal complaint filed in Pike County, Pa.
"Tension is high at the moment and the time seems right for a spark to ignite a fire in the hearts of men."
- Eric Frein, according to an affidavit
Frein, a survivalist marksman, was arrested on Oct. 30 near an abandoned airplane hangar in the Pocono Mountains after 48 days on the run.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AND AFFIDAVIT
According to an affidavit filed in Pike County, Frein, 31, also wrote a letter to his parents in December that was discovered on a thumb drive seized along with more than 100 items at the time of his arrest.
"Our nation is far from what it was and what it should be," Frein wrote in the letter. "There is so much wrong and on so many levels 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 faces 11 charges: one count of murder in the first degree; one count of criminal attempt of murder in the first degree; one count of criminal homicide of a law enforcement officer; one count of criminal attempt to commit homicide of a law enforcement officer; one count of assault of a law enforcement officer; one count of discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure; one count of possessing instruments of crime; one count of recklessly endangering another person; two counts of terrorism; and one count weapon of mass destruction for two bombs he allegedly possessed.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against him.
The quiet takedown of Frein last month ended weeks of tension and turmoil in the area, as authorities at times closed schools, canceled outdoor events and blockaded roads to pursue him. Residents grew weary of hearing helicopters overhead, and small businesses suffered mounting losses.
Police said they linked Frein to the troopers' ambush after a man walking his dog discovered his partly submerged SUV three days later in a swamp a few miles from the shooting scene. Inside, investigators found shell casings matching those found at the barracks as well as Frein's driver's license, camouflage face paint, two empty rifle cases and military gear.
Officials, saying Frein was armed and extremely dangerous, had urged residents to be alert and cautious. Using dogs, thermal imaging technology and other tools, law enforcement officials combed miles of forest as they hunted for Frein, whom they called an experienced survivalist at home in the woods.
They pursued countless tips and closed in on an area around Frein's parents' home in Canadensis after he used his cellphone to try contacting them and the signal was traced to a location about 3 miles away. At times police ordered nearby residents to stay inside or prevented them from returning home.
When Frein was arrested, he was placed in the handcuffs of the trooper he's accused of killing. He was driven back to the state police barracks in the trooper's cruiser.
Police refused to tell Frein that his family had hired an attorney for him the night he was captured, his lawyer has said. Veteran criminal defense attorney James Swetz said he was prevented from seeing Frein the night he was arrested.
"I was told, 'He's an adult and has not asked for a lawyer,'" Swetz recounted days ago.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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