Christopher Peden, a 36-year-old man from Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been charged with arson after allegedly cutting off his own genitals, dousing them in petrol, and using them to ignite a fire inside a neighbor's garage. The bizarre incident occurred on May 6, prompting simultaneous emergency responses to a garage fire and a reported stabbing.
Incident Details
According to a probable cause affidavit, firefighters and police were dispatched to a garage fire early that morning. Simultaneously, officers responded to a separate report of a stabbing in downtown Fort Wayne. Police later found Peden suffering from severe injuries. He initially told officers he had been threatened the day before and then stabbed by an unknown attacker. However, while being treated at a hospital, Peden allegedly admitted to an officer that he had lied about being attacked and that his injuries were self-inflicted, as reported by True Crime News.
The Gruesome Act
Investigators claim that Peden entered a residential garage carrying a kitchen knife around 2 a.m. He allegedly mutilated himself by severing his own genitals, then poured petrol directly onto the amputated organ. The affidavit states that he set the organ alight on the garage floor just inside the door, using the burning body part to start a fire inside the building, according to the New York Post.
Aftermath and Evidence
After starting the blaze, Peden reportedly left the garage and walked away until he encountered police. Fire investigators later recovered key items from the scene, including a red plastic petrol container, four lighters, and a kitchen knife. Public court records have not disclosed a motive for the alleged act. It is also unclear what happened to the severed genitalia; court documents do not specify whether investigators were able to locate or recover it.
Legal Consequences
Peden now faces a Level 4 felony arson charge, as reported by Wane 15. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 12 years in prison. The case highlights the severity of the charges and the unusual nature of the crime.
