The Cannibal Corpse guitarist whose house contained three skulls was Pat O’Brien, and the discovery came on December 10, 2018, after he broke into a neighbor’s home in Northdale, Florida, charged at a sheriff’s deputy with a knife, and left his own rental house burning behind him. A search of the property turned up more than 80 firearms, two flamethrowers, and the three skulls. He was charged with two felonies, sentenced in 2021 to probation and restitution, and no longer plays with the band.
The Night of the Arrest
On the evening of December 10, 2018, O’Brien forced his way into a home on Windflower Circle occupied by two people. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, he told the residents “the rapture is coming,” pushed a woman to the ground, and fled into the backyard.1Consequence of Sound. Firearms, Skulls Found in Cannibal Corpse Guitarist’s Home He had reportedly also contacted his parents beforehand claiming “the aliens have landed.”2ClickOnDetroit. Death Metal Guitarist Warned of Rapture, Aliens as House Went Up in Flames
When deputies arrived, they found O’Brien hiding behind a fence. He refused their commands and ran at a deputy with a knife in his right hand. Deputies subdued him with a Taser and took him into custody.3Rolling Stone. Cannibal Corpse Guitarist Arrested After Assaulting Officer, House Fire At the same time, his rented home on nearby Northwood Drive was on fire. Investigators later found incendiary devices inside and outside the residence, and the blaze was made worse by live ammunition discharging in the flames.4Metal Injection. Cannibal Corpse’s Pat O’Brien Sentenced for 2018 Assault and Burglary
What Investigators Found Inside the House
After the fire was out, authorities executed a search warrant and found what news reports described as a makeshift armory. The inventory ran to more than 80 firearms: roughly 50 shotguns, 10 semiautomatic rifles including AK-47 variants, two Uzi-style firearms, and 20 handguns. Investigators also recovered two flamethrowers and thousands of rounds of ammunition stored in boxes, military-style metal cans, and ammo belts.5Rolling Stone. Cannibal Corpse Guitarist Warned of Rapture, Aliens Before Arrest
One shotgun had been sawed off to roughly an inch past the stock, making it illegal to possess. Federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were called in to assist. Reporting by the Tampa Bay Times noted that aside from the sawed-off shotgun, possessing the rest of the weapons was not illegal.6Tampa Bay Times. Tampa Death Metal Rocker Warned of Rapture; Arsenal Found in Burning Home No weapons charges were filed.
Three skulls were also recovered from the home. Multiple outlets reported their discovery, but none specified whether the skulls were human, animal, or replicas, and no charges were filed in connection with them.7Loudwire. Cannibal Corpse Guitarist Had 50 Shotguns, 3 Skulls, More Weaponry in Home
The Charges and the Sentence
O’Brien was charged with two felonies: aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, and burglary of an occupied dwelling with assault or battery.8Miami Herald. Cannibal Corpse Guitarist Charged With Burglary, Assault No charges were filed over the house fire, the sawed-off shotgun, or the skulls.
At his first court appearance on December 11, O’Brien appeared shackled at the wrists and ankles and wearing an anti-suicide vest. The judge set bond at $50,000, contingent on his passing a drug test.9Revolver. See Florida News Report on Cannibal Corpse’s Pat O’Brien Case Court Appearance He was later released on a surety bond.4Metal Injection. Cannibal Corpse’s Pat O’Brien Sentenced for 2018 Assault and Burglary
On March 16, 2021, O’Brien was sentenced on both charges. The sentence included time served, five years of probation, 150 hours of community service, and $23,793.45 in restitution. He was also ordered to undergo drug and alcohol evaluations, abstain from alcohol and controlled substances, and submit to random testing.10Consequence of Sound. Ex-Cannibal Corpse Guitarist Pat O’Brien Sentenced He served no prison time beyond what he had already spent in custody after the arrest.
How Cannibal Corpse Handled It
Ten days after the arrest, Cannibal Corpse released a statement saying the band wanted “nothing but the best for our brother and partner, Pat” and that he was “getting the help he needs.” Scheduled touring would continue as planned.11NME. Cannibal Corpse Issue Statement Erik Rutan, who had produced four of their albums, stepped in on guitar starting January 18, 2019.12Louder Sound. Cannibal Corpse Bring in Erik Rutan to Replace Pat O’Brien
On a June 2019 Jasta podcast appearance, vocalist George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher said the band had been “completely shocked” by O’Brien’s behavior and had no explanation for it. “We love him. We want him back,” Fisher said, while acknowledging that O’Brien’s legal situation was “out of our hands.”13MetalSucks. Cannibal Corpse’s Corpsegrinder on Guitarist Pat O’Brien
That is not how it played out. On February 2, 2021, alongside the announcement of their fifteenth studio album Violence Unimagined, Cannibal Corpse confirmed Rutan as a permanent member. The band never publicly said O’Brien had been fired.14MetalSucks. Cannibal Corpse Debut New Single, Name Erik Rutan as Permanent Member
Where Pat O’Brien Is Now
After his sentencing, O’Brien gradually returned to performing. In May 2022, he joined the thrash/groove metal band Exhorder as a full-time member and made his first live appearance since the arrest at that year’s Maryland Deathfest.15Blabbermouth. Former Cannibal Corpse Guitarist Pat O’Brien Is Planning Solo Project
As of early 2024, he remained with Exhorder and said he intended to contribute to future recordings and tour when his schedule allowed. His live performances are limited to the United States because of travel restrictions he described as still being sorted out.16Metal Injection. Pat O’Brien of Exhorder and Ex-Cannibal Corpse Is Working on a Solo Album