Michigan Church Attacker Once Lived in Utah, Left Behind Troubling History
MICHIGAN — Investigators are uncovering more about Thomas Jacob Sanford, the man responsible for the deadly September 29 attack on a Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan that left four people dead and at least eight others injured. Authorities say Sanford once lived in Utah, where those who knew him remember a very different man.
A Quiet Year in Utah
In 2010, Sanford rented a room in Jeremy Ranch, Utah, from Sandra Winter. She said he stayed for about a year before suddenly moving out.
“He was just a really nice guy. I wouldn’t have imagined he would do something like this … He never displayed any anger,” Winter told NBC News.
Winter said Sanford was dating a devout church member at the time but appeared uncertain about joining the faith. After he left Utah, she never heard from him again.
Past Legal Trouble
Court records show Sanford was arrested in Summit County in 2010 for driving under the influence. He later pleaded guilty to a lesser impaired driving charge.
According to former landlords, he supported himself with snow removal and landscaping jobs during his time in Utah.
Anger Toward the Church
In the days leading up to the Michigan attack, Sanford displayed open hostility toward the faith. Kris Johns, a Michigan city council candidate, said Sanford unexpectedly approached him and spoke about the church.
“He did make the statement that Mormons are the anti-Christ, which is a shocking statement,” Johns told CNN. “There was anger. It was a long-standing anger … what he did took planning.”
Attack Leaves Devastation in Michigan
On September 29 in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, Sanford entered a Latter-day Saints chapel, opened fire, and then set the building on fire. Authorities fatally shot him at the scene.
By the next day, the church was reduced to rubble. Reports also confirm Sanford was a Marine veteran who served in Iraq and that he had a young child with a medical condition.
The case continues to raise questions about Sanford’s years of simmering resentment and whether signs from his past could have prevented the tragedy.
Do you believe earlier warning signs could have stopped this attack? Share your thoughts in the comments on FatCityFeed.com.
