Christopher Peden is a 36-year-old resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana, who has been charged with one count of Level 4 felony arson after authorities accused him of mutilating himself and using his severed penis to start a fire inside a detached garage.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on May 6 when the Fort Wayne Fire Department responded to reports of a garage fire. At around the same time, police were called to investigate a reported stabbing and found Peden with severe injuries.
Initially, Peden told officers that he had been stabbed somewhere in downtown Fort Wayne and claimed someone had threatened him the previous day. He was then taken to a hospital for treatment.
What Happened?
While at the hospital, Peden allegedly admitted that his original account was false and told investigators he “wanted to be truthful.”
According to the probable cause affidavit, Peden said that at about 2 AM he entered the garage and used a kitchen knife to cut off his penis. He then allegedly poured gasoline on the severed organ and “set it on fire on the floor of the garage just inside the door.”
After starting the fire, Peden told investigators he walked away from the garage until he encountered police officers.
Authorities investigating the scene recovered a red plastic gasoline container, four lighters and a kitchen knife from the garage. Court records do not specify whether the severed organ was later recovered.
The owners of the property reportedly told investigators they were awakened by a neighbor who alerted them to the fire. They also realized that a family member, identified as Peden, was missing from the home.
Peden has been charged with one count of arson, a Level 4 felony in Indiana that carries a potential prison sentence of up to 12 years. Court records show he is scheduled to return to court next week, when dates for his trial are expected to be set.
The case remains under judicial process, and the allegations against Peden are based on court documents and statements cited by investigators.