A 36-year-old man from Indiana, Christopher Peden, is facing up to 12 years in prison after allegedly cutting off his own genitals and using them to start a fire at his mother's detached garage. The incident occurred on May 6, when Fort Wayne firefighters responded to a blaze at the garage while police were simultaneously called to a reported stabbing.
Neighbors Alert Homeowners
Neighbors of the garage owners noticed the fire and woke them up, at which point they realized that family member Christopher Peden was missing. Officers later found Peden, who initially claimed he had been stabbed in downtown Fort Wayne and had been threatened the day before. He was transported to a hospital, where he reportedly confessed to police that he had been dishonest.
Wanting to be truthful, Peden told investigators that at around 2 a.m., he harmed himself using a kitchen knife to cut off his penis. According to FOX 59, he then poured gasoline on the dismembered organ and set it on fire on the garage floor just inside the door. He left the garage, which is located at the property where both his mother and brother live, and walked away until he encountered law enforcement.
Evidence Found at Scene
Upon examining the scene, police discovered a red plastic gasoline container, four lighters, and a kitchen knife. Court documents do not specify whether his genitals were found. Peden's mother and brother told police that the garage only stored a gas container for their lawnmower and did not have electricity. The fire ultimately damaged two nearby properties and two vehicles.
Peden has been charged with arson, a Level 4 felony. He is due in court next week for trial dates to be set, having paid a $10,000 (£7,500) bond on Tuesday. His attorney, David Felts, said he was recently retained and has not yet spoken to his client. According to The Independent, Felts had no comment when asked about Peden's alleged confession to police. If convicted, Peden faces both jail time and a maximum fine of $10,000.
