McCaslin developed a fascination with comic books and super heroes while growing up in Zanesville, OH. Following his discharge from the Marine Corps, McCaslin developed the super hero identity The Lynx in 1985. He briefly patrolled Zanesville with a teenage sidekick named Iron Claw. McCaslin would develop more personas over the years. He went on to live in Austin, TX, Carson City, NV, and Las Vegas, NV. McCaslin was described as "an avid fan" of country music singer Chely Wright. In 2001, he attended a charity event and placed the winning bid of $14,500 for a dinner with the performer, with proceeds benefiting Wright's Reading, Writing and Rhythm Foundation. In 2002, McCaslin attempted a raid on the elite campground known as Bohemian Grove while dressed as his alter ego the Phantom Patriot, citing concerns of ritualistic child sacrifice inspired by an Alex Jones documentary. McCaslin set fire to a mess hall before surrendering to Sonoma County police officers. He was later convicted on felony charges of arson, burglary, brandishing a weapon at a peace officer, and two counts for being armed and wearing a bulletproof vest.
The Phantom Patriot
The Phantom Patriot was the name taken by Richard McCaslin of Carson City, Nevada, who, on January 19, 2002, attempted an attack on the Bohemian Grove. He was imprisoned in California. He is the subject of the song "Phantom Patriot" by Les Claypool on his album Of Whales and Woe. McCaslin, wearing a skull mask and a blue jumpsuit with "Phantom Patriot" written in red on his chest, infiltrated the site of Bohemian Grove, just north of San Francisco. He was heavily armed with "a pump-action rifle/shotgun hybrid, a.45 caliber handgun, a crossbow, a 2-foot-long sword, a knife and a fireworks mortar tube." McCaslin slept in one of the cabins overnight. The following morning, he found the 30-foot owl statue, then later encountered caretaker Fred Yeager and maintenance man Bob Hipkiss. McCaslin set a fire in the empty banquet hall, then was later removed peacefully by local law enforcement officers and was briefly held at the mental health ward of the Sonoma County Jail. He later claimed to have seen the documentary filmDark Secrets Inside Bohemian Grove, by radio show host Alex Jones.
After prison release
McCaslin was paroled on May 19, 2008. On June 28, 2011, using the name "Thoughtcrime", McCaslin protested outside the Alcoa plant in Davenport, Iowa, where Barack Obama was speaking. He accused Obama, as well as the Bushes, the Clintons and others of being reptoid/human hybrids, or "blue blood". Most recently, McCaslin had adopted Las Vegas, Nevada as his base of operations. His story appears in the 2013 book, "Heroes in the Night; Inside the Real Life Superhero Movement" by Tea Krulos. He also has six Phantom Patriot videos on YouTube.
Death
A report filed by the Metropolitan Police Department on October 15, 2018, indicates McCaslin attempted suicide in Washington, D.C. Police found McCaslin suffering from a head injury in his truck, parked in an alley next to the House of Temple, a Masonic Temple. The Freemasons were a frequent subject of McCaslin's conspiracy theories. He was pronounced dead the following day.
