Michigan church shooter Thomas Sanford had unhinged obsession with Mormons for years leading up to attack

GRAND BLANC — The shooter of a Michigan Latter-day Saints church, Thomas Sanford, reportedly harbored a disturbing obsession with the Mormon religion, convinced that they were on a path to “take over the world,” as revealed by people close to him.

This unhealthy fixation may have originated from a tumultuous relationship with an “extremely religious” Mormon woman who pressured him to convert while he was residing in Utah, according to a former landlord’s account in The New York Times.

“He wasn’t entirely certain about joining the church, but his desire to be with her was strong,” Sandra Winter, 56, who rented a room to Sanford in Jeremy Ranch over ten years ago, explained.

During his time in Utah — after serving as a U.S. Marine, including a deployment in Iraq — Sanford became involved in methamphetamine use, which, according to a childhood friend, transformed his previously friendly demeanor into something much harsher by the time he returned to Michigan.

“He was not mentally stable,” Peter Tersigni told the press.

Upon returning to Michigan, Sanford developed a pronounced distaste for the Mormon faith, which he did not hesitate to share with his acquaintances.

“He developed this bizarre fascination, claiming that Mormons were the Antichrist and would eventually dominate the world,” Tersigni’s twin brother, Francis, commented.

Even at Peter’s wedding, he couldn’t refrain from voicing his anti-Mormon sentiments.

“All he could discuss was Mormons,” Peter recalled. “I told him that nobody wanted to hear about this.”

His fixation with disparaging Mormons persisted right up until a week before he rammed his truck into the Latter-day Saints church in Grand Blanc.

Kris Johns, a city council candidate from Burton, Michigan, encountered Sanford while door-knocking and reported that the gunman questioned him about his knowledge of Mormons for nearly 15 minutes.

“He was quite animated. He went off on how the Mormon Bible includes extra books, which he vehemently disliked. He claimed to be a Christian and disapproved of how they prioritize their beliefs,” Johns recounted.

“His main point was that ‘Mormons are the antichrist,’ and he delivered it with the same nonchalance as if we were discussing the weather,” Johns added, reflecting on Sanford’s calm and casual tone.

Interestingly, Sanford also expressed fond thoughts about his 10-year-old son and inquired about Johns’ daughter, who was present in the vehicle with him at the time.

“Seeing him so calm and caring was shocking; it felt like a complete contrast to his later actions. He’s a father, and now there are children without their dads because of what he did.”

Just days after his strange interaction with Johns, Sanford committed the tragic attack on worshippers, leading to four deaths and injuring eight others.