He was infamous for his strong animosity towards women and his tendency to file numerous, unnecessary lawsuits. Tragically, he took the life of a New Jersey federal judge's son before ending his own, as stated by officials.
Roy Den Hollander appeared resentful and agitated when he encountered a former rugby teammate in December at a library in Manhattan. He spoke of being gravely ill with an uncommon cancer, so severe that he felt he could pass away at any time, and he pondered suing his doctor for malpractice.
Mr. Den Hollander's situation continued to deteriorate. As a self-proclaimed "anti-feminist" lawyer, he was notorious for his hostile views against women and for initiating numerous lawsuits, many of which were considered unnecessary. In May, a Manhattan judge dismissed one of these suits, and shortly after, a federal judge in New Jersey named Esther Salas postponed a hearing in another case.
This postponement was the latest in a series of long-held grudges he had against Judge Salas, based on his baseless belief that she was deliberately slowing down the case. This resentment was part of a larger pattern of deep-seated anger towards women. He blamed his mother for his lack of a romantic relationship and accused his ex-wife of marrying him solely for immigration benefits.
This month, Mr. Den Hollander's fury escalated into a tragic act of violence when he arrived at Judge Salas's home in New Jersey, disguised as a FedEx delivery person. He opened fire, resulting in the death of her 20-year-old son and injuring her husband, as reported by investigators. Fortunately, Judge Salas, who was in the basement at the time, remained unharmed.
Just days earlier, Mr. Den Hollander, aged 72, had taken a train to San Bernardino County, California. There, he fatally shot a lawyer who was also involved in men's rights advocacy at his residence, as stated by the authorities.
A few hours after the incident in New Jersey, police discovered Mr. Den Hollander's body in a remote area of upstate New York. He had succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Investigators discovered a list in Mr. Den Hollander's rental car, which identified over a dozen potential targets, according to sources familiar with the investigation. The list included not only Judge Salas and the rival lawyer but also three other female judges and two oncologists, one of whom had previously treated Mr. Den Hollander.
An in-depth look at Mr. Den Hollander's life reveals his alignment with the most extreme faction of a male supremacist movement known for its increasingly hostile online rhetoric against women.
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