A chilling plot to assassinate Donald Trump at his Florida golf club has come to light, revealing a suspect who confessed months in advance. Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, stands accused of attempting to kill the former president, allegedly declaring in a letter, “This was an assassination attempt.”

The brazen act occurred on September 15 at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, where Trump miraculously escaped unharmed, though the threat was unmistakably real.

According to the Department of Justice, Routh was caught aiming a long black rifle from the shadows of a nearby wooded area, only to flee the scene in a panic. In a shocking twist, documents reveal that Routh had hidden for nearly 12 hours before the incident, suggesting premeditated intent.

Federal prosecutors disclosed a disturbing detail in a pre-trial motion obtained by PEOPLE: a witness had reported that Routh dropped off a mysterious box at their home months earlier. Upon hearing of the assassination attempt, the witness opened the box to find an alarming assortment of letters, including one chillingly addressed to “The World.”

In this handwritten note, Routh wrote, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster.” Disturbingly, he went on to offer a staggering $150,000 to anyone willing to “complete the job.”

The box also contained ammunition, a metal pipe, multiple phones, and various tools, raising further alarm. Authorities discovered a list in Routh’s car detailing dates and venues where Trump had appeared or was expected to be, alongside a notebook filled with phone numbers and discussions about joining the war in Ukraine.

Prosecutors revealed that the FBI has scrutinized a self-published book by Routh, where he allegedly stated that Iran was “free to assassinate Trump,” amplifying the terrifying nature of his intentions.

Charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, Routh has a troubling history, having previously been convicted in 2002 for possession of a weapon of mass destruction, among other crimes.

This latest incident comes on the heels of another assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania in July, where Trump sustained a minor ear injury while a rally-goer tragically lost their life.