A man from Indiana is facing a felony charge after he allegedly cut off his genitals and used the dismembered organ to start a garage fire, authorities said. Christopher Peden, a 36-year-old man from Fort Wayne, Indiana, is facing one count of felony arson that stems from a fire he allegedly set in his mother’s garage on May 6, according to court documents.
Peden first told authorities at the scene that he was stabbed while downtown and that he had been threatened by someone the day prior. However, he later told an officer while at a hospital that he went into the garage around 2 a.m. and used a kitchen knife to cut off his genitals, according to court documents.
After cutting off his genitals, Peden said he then poured gasoline on the organ and set it on fire before leaving the garage. A gasoline container, four lighters and a kitchen knife were found by fire investigators at the scene.
Peden’s brother, who lives at their mother’s house where the fire was started, said he was woken up by neighbors who had come over to tell them about the fire, court documents said. Both Peden’s brother and mother were home when he allegedly started the fire.
Peden is due to appear in court next on July 13.
Original reporting: Richardson, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.