An Oklahoma resident has admitted guilt in a federal court in Boston for attempting to damage The Satanic Temple (TST) in Salem, Massachusetts, using a pipe bomb. Sean Patrick Palmer, aged 49 and hailing from Perkins, Oklahoma, confessed to the charge of employing an explosive device with the intent to harm a building engaged in interstate or foreign commerce. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani has set Palmer's sentencing for June 12, 2025. His indictment by a federal grand jury occurred in May 2024 following his arrest on April 17, 2024.
The Satanic Temple is identified as a non-theistic religious group based in Salem. Surveillance footage captured at around 4:14 a.m. on April 8, 2024, showed an individual later identified as Palmer approaching TST while wearing tactical gear and face covering. He ignited and threw an improvised explosive device (IED) at the temple's entrance before fleeing the scene. The IED failed to fully detonate, resulting only in minor exterior damage.
Investigations revealed that the pipe bomb was constructed from plastic pipe covered with metal nails and filled with smokeless gunpowder; DNA evidence linked Palmer to the device. A handwritten note was discovered nearby containing statements urging repentance and claiming divine instruction.
The charge against Palmer carries a potential sentence ranging from five to twenty years imprisonment, alongside three years of supervised release and fines up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the development along with Jodi Cohen of the FBI’s Boston Division and Lucas J. Miller of the Salem Police Department. Assistance came from various law enforcement agencies including ATF’s Boston Field Division and several state and local authorities across Massachusetts and Oklahoma.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason A. Casey is handling prosecution duties for this case.