How a mother’s phone calls to police helped uncover the alleged UFC Freedom 250 plot

How a Mother's Phone Calls Uncovered an Alleged UFC Attack Plot

How a mother s phone calls - Authorities reported that a series of phone calls from a concerned mother in Ohio sparked a federal investigation into an alleged plan to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House. These calls, obtained by ABC News, revealed how a family’s fears about a young man’s mental state and potential threat led to the FBI’s involvement, resulting in the arrest of one suspect linked to the plot. The incident, which occurred just days before the high-profile event, underscores the critical role that everyday communication can play in identifying national security threats.

Initial Report: A Mother’s Concerns Prompt Action

The investigation began on June 10 when Tycen Proper’s mother, whose identity has not been disclosed, called her cousin, the chief deputy of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. The call, captured in a recording by ABC News, showed her escalating worries about her 19-year-old son’s behavior. “They are having some issues with their son, and I think... I know she has concerns with weapons and ammo, and particularly a mindset that her oldest boy is in right now,” the cousin said, highlighting how the mother's phone calls were the starting point of the inquiry. This prompted the deputy chief to contact dispatch, seeking immediate assistance to assess the situation.

“They are having some issues with their son, and I think... I know she has concerns with weapons and ammo, and particularly a mindset that her oldest boy is in right now.”

The mother's phone calls led to a rapid response. Within minutes of the cousin’s report, a Danville, Ohio, police officer was dispatched to Proper’s home. The call log from the dispatch center showed the officer arrived swiftly, emphasizing the urgency of the mother's phone calls in triggering the investigation. “She called me on my phone all panicky,” the cousin said in the same recording, “and I’m like, ‘Well, I’m at home, there’s nothing I can do, but I’ll call and get somebody on the way.’”

Escalating Warnings: The Mother’s Fears Materialize

Later that evening, the mother's phone calls intensified as she decided to file a formal report. She informed dispatch that her son had been removed from his room and all his firearms and ammunition had been taken off the property. “Yes, we just got all of his guns and ammo out of his room and put it... he just came inside and he’s probably going to discover it’s not in his room,” she told the dispatcher. When asked if her son was present, she hesitated, then expressed concern: “What’s going on, though? Is he like... is he suicidal?”

“Oh no, he’s just ... I don’t ... we don’t even know what he’s wanting to do. He’s wanting to leave this weekend and go with a group of people to help, like, fight the corrupt government.”

The mother's phone calls continued to provide vital clues. During the FBI’s search of Proper’s iPhone, she emphasized the importance of his digital messages. “He’s texting somebody. If you go ahead and get a hold of his phone or his text messages, it’s all in there,” she told investigators. Her phone’s Google Maps data also revealed a pin near Washington, D.C., further supporting the suspicions raised by her phone calls.

Digital Evidence: A Mother’s Role in the Plot’s Discovery

The FBI’s analysis of Proper’s phone uncovered detailed plans for the attack. Signal group chats showed how the mother's phone calls had connected to a broader network of individuals plotting to disrupt the UFC event. One chat described the operation as a “hit-and-a-run type of thing,” with Proper expressing doubts about the plan. “It’s a hit-and-a-run type of thing. I’m, like... Oh, that doesn’t sound good,” he said to his mother, according to body camera footage shared with ABC News. This exchange, captured via the mother's phone, became a pivotal piece of evidence in the case.

The mother's phone calls not only alerted authorities to the immediate danger but also provided a timeline of events. Her repeated messages to dispatch and the FBI highlighted the urgency of her son’s intentions. The FBI’s search of Proper’s iPhone, guided by the mother's phone calls, uncovered critical details about the attack’s logistics and the suspect’s mindset. This digital evidence, combined with the mother's phone calls, painted a clear picture of the planned operation.