An Indiana man admitted to cutting off his own penis with a kitchen knife and using the severed member to set fire to a detached garage, according to court documents. The bizarre incident occurred on May 6 in Fort Wayne, where the fire department first responded to a blaze at a garage, while police simultaneously investigated a reported stabbing.
Shocking confession emerges
The garage owners told authorities that a neighbor had alerted them to the fire. They soon realized that a family member, 36-year-old Christopher Peden, was missing. Meanwhile, Fort Wayne police located Peden, who initially claimed he had been stabbed somewhere in downtown Fort Wayne. He also alleged he had been threatened the previous day.
While being transported to the hospital, Peden maintained his stabbing story. However, according to the probable cause affidavit, he later told investigators he had been "dishonest" about the stabbing and "wanted to be truthful." He then revealed that he had gone to the garage and "harmed himself" by cutting off his penis with a kitchen knife.
Gasoline and fire used
Peden informed investigators that he poured gasoline on his severed member and "set it on fire on the floor of the garage just inside the door." He then left the scene and was later found by police. Investigators retrieved several items from the garage as evidence, including a red plastic gasoline container, four lighters, and a kitchen knife.
Legal consequences
Peden now faces charges of arson, classified as a Level 4 felony in Indiana. Court records confirm that a hearing has been scheduled for next week. The case continues to baffle officials due to its unusual nature.
