What began as an unsettling afternoon near Yosemite National Park has now turned into a full-blown legal and psychiatric saga.
Anthony Mehlhaff, vocalist for punk-metal band Cancer Christ, has formally pleaded not guilty to a long list of felony charges tied to an alleged violent rampage on August 21, 2024. He has remained in custody since his arrest, and with each new court filing, the picture surrounding the incident grows darker, more chaotic, and far less “rock ‘n’ roll mythology” than anyone might want.
According to earlier reports, the alleged chain of events began at a restaurant in Buck Meadows, Mariposa County. Mehlhaff is accused of approaching a pregnant waitress and making statements that crossed from bizarre into outright alarming, including claiming that “the spirits” had led him to her and that her unborn child “belonged” to him. As if that weren’t enough, he allegedly told her he would be waiting for her during her break—never a sentence that ends well.
Things reportedly escalated quickly. Authorities claim Mehlhaff stole drinks, assaulted a restaurant employee, and fled the scene. From there, the situation allegedly snowballed into something resembling a crime blotter speedrun as he traveled toward Yosemite National Park.
Prosecutors allege Mehlhaff went on to:
Steal a bicycle
Threaten lodge employees with a knife
Strip down to his underwear
Attempt to kidnap a store manager
Steal that manager’s vehicle
Ram another car
Crash while fleeing law enforcement
Following the crash, Mehlhaff was taken into custody, where officials claim he assaulted sheriff’s deputies during a hospital evaluation—apparently unwilling to let the night end quietly.
According to a November 10, 2024 amended complaint cited by the Mariposa Gazette, Mehlhaff now faces ten felony counts, including kidnapping, robbery, vandalism, theft, and assault with a deadly weapon. Four additional charges, including battery of a police officer, were reduced to misdemeanors. This is, to put it mildly, not a minor paperwork issue.
The Gazette also reports that Mehlhaff has dismissed at least three public defenders, while two others declined to represent him—suggesting that even the professionals may have found the situation unusually difficult. The same report notes that his mental health crisis did not emerge overnight.
In late July 2024, Mehlhaff was reportedly placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold. In early August, he allegedly barricaded himself inside a hospital room, causing approximately $5,000 in damage by breaking windows, ripping out ceiling tiles, and flooding the room. Though he was arrested on charges including vandalism and criminal threats, hospital staff ultimately declined to press charges, and he was released—an outcome that, in hindsight, feels less than reassuring.
The Mariposa Gazette also spoke with Mehlhaff’s ex-wife, with whom he shares a 13-year-old daughter. She described Mehlhaff as having lived sober for years, citing a family history of mental illness, but claimed that changed in 2023. According to her account, he began abusing psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”) while also consuming large amounts of THC edibles and beverages—behavior that coincided with the collapse of their relationship and eventual separation.
A bandmate from Cancer Christ reportedly echoed those concerns, describing Mehlhaff’s behavior as manic, erratic, and wildly out of character, allegedly tied to sudden substance abuse.
Two forensic psychiatrists have since evaluated Mehlhaff and reportedly diagnosed him with:
Bipolar disorder
Complex trauma
Cannabis use disorder
Hallucinogen use disorder
The reports also note that Mehlhaff’s mother suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and that he experienced a difficult childhood. According to psychiatric assessments, the August incident was likely triggered by heavy psilocybin and THC use. Despite this, Mehlhaff has reportedly refused anti-psychotic medication while in custody.
Mehlhaff’s current legal team plans to pursue a mental health diversion, which would allow him to avoid prosecution if he agrees to two years of treatment and therapy. The Mariposa County District Attorney, however, has already indicated they intend to oppose the motion.
For now, the case remains a grim reminder that behind extreme music personas and confrontational art, real-life crises don’t come with stage lights, encores, or a clean ending—and they rarely resolve themselves on their own.
