'Incel' plotted to 'slaughter' thousands of university women, pleads guilty to attempted hate crime

A man who described himself as an "incel," or "involuntary celibate," has now pled guilty to attempting a hate crime after his plot to "slaughter" thousands of women at an Ohio university was foiled.

In July 2021, Tres Genco of Hillsboro, Ohio, was arrested and charged with surveilling an unnamed Ohio university in January 2020. Investigators said they'd discovered a manifesto Genco had written which outlined plans to "slaughter" women "out of hatred, jealousy and revenge." They also alleged that at that time, he had conducted internet searches about university sororities, the difference between "preparing for a crime" and "an attempt," and "planning a shooting crime."

This Tuesday, Genco, 22, pled guilty to one count of attempting to commit a hate crime. And federal investigators believe that they thwarted Genco just in time.

"Genco formulated a plot to kill women and intended to carry it out. Our federal and local law enforcement partners stopped that from happening," U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio said in a statement. "Hate has no place in our country — including gender-based hate — and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to vigorously prosecute any such conduct."

In the manifesto that investigators found, Genco suggested that death was the "great equalizer" and that he intended to shoot as many as 3,000 women, including members of various sororities, out of frustration that women did not want to engage in a romantic or sexual relationship with him.

Between at least July 2019 and March 2020, Genco also frequently participated in online groups of fellow "incels." At one point, Genco bragged that he had attacked women and couples with a water gun filled with orange juice, which he described as an "extremely empowering action." According to the Department of Justice, Elliot Rodger, another incel who killed six people in California back in 2014, committed a similar attack with orange juice.

When police searched Genco's home, they discovered munitions, body armor, and various weapons — including one with an attached bump stock, which experts say would help with rapid fire.

Genco was in Army basic training until December 2019, when he was discharged for "entry-level performance and conduct," according to Fox News.

Because Genco pled guilty to a federal crime with an attempt to kill, he faces life in prison. He has been housed in the Butler County jail since his initial arrest. It is unclear when he will be sentenced or in which facility he will serve that sentence.