An Arizona man has allegedly admitted to killing and mutilating his father before placing the remains in a 55-gallon metal barrel that he set on fire.
Christopher Lawrence Chase, 32, told detectives that he and his father were involved in a physical altercation on July 22 before things turned bloody.
“This altercation led to Christopher fatally shooting Thomas Chase and then dismembering his body,” police said.
“Further investigation has determined Christopher was aided by his 56-year-old mother, Melissa Lynne Chase, in the concealment and cleanup of evidence.”
When firefighters arrived at the home to extinguish the flames, at around 1:43 a.m. Monday, they spotted the suspect fleeing the scene.
Christopher broke into a home in the 200 block of North Morrison Avenue and held two men and a woman hostage at gunpoint before he decided to call the police on himself.
“Christopher demanded keys to their vehicle before ultimately calling 911 to turn himself in,” authorities said.
Christopher was charged with murder, abandonment/concealment of a dead body, kidnapping, aggravated assault, burglary, and tampering with evidence.
His mother faces charges of abandonment/concealment of a dead body and tampering with evidence.
