Family Of Illinois Man Charged With Attempting To Firebomb Oklahoma Churches Says He Suffered From Mental Illness
By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 8, 2012 1:30PM
Gregory Arthur Weiler II
Weiler was allegedly caught in a hotel room with materials to make Molotov cocktails and a hand-drawn map with detailed notes for firebombing 48 churches in the Ottawa County, Okla. area, including what nights people would be at the churches. He’s being held without bond at the Ottawa County jail. Miami Police Chief George Haralson said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are leading the investigation.
Haralson said Weiler checked into the hotel with an Illinois license listing a residence in Washington, IL. As news spread of his arrest his family began speaking to the media about how mental illness ravaged his family. Both of Weiler’s parents committed suicide—his mother in 2002, his father in 2005&mdash. Weiler attempted to kill himself in eighth grade, was hospitalized numerous times for mental illness and had addictions to alcohol, heroin and stealing. (A sister of Weiler’s is currently hospitalized after several suicide attempts.)
Weiler attended Bradley University after graduating high school, but dropped out it was discovered he skipped classes and stole money from friends and family in a pyramid scheme. Weiler later joined an extremist Christian church his family described as a “cult.”
Weiler posted a note to his Facebook page Sept. 25 (which ABC 7’s Chuck Goudie called “a blistering manifesto”) in which he listed his issues with organized religion and experiences being bullied in Catholic schools.
”About a week ago, as I sit in a hotel room, it hits me like a ton of bricks......though I know I am no one special, nor am I someone of great reputation or report, nor do I demand attention for it is not due to me - I myself am worthy of nothing - I am still a living, and breathing human being. And every human being is entitled to the ability to speak that which is upon their heart, and is entitled to free will. The United States was founded officially in 1776 on the premise that we were to leave behind the very group of people whom oppressed us so greatly - the Imperial Catholic Church.”
Chris Meyers, an uncle who became Weiler’s legal guardian after his mother’s suicide, told the Chicago Sun-Times Weiler “loved the Catholic Church”
“Somebody had to put a thought in his head,” Meyers said.