(FORT WAYNE) - A Fort Wayne man faces an arson charge after investigators determined a garage fire began when he set his severed genitals on fire.
Warning: This story contains disturbing details.
Fort Wayne fire officials began investigating a detached garage fire May 6. Police were responding around the same time to a reported stabbing nearby.
The garage owners told investigators that a neighbor woke them to warn them about the fire. They also discovered that a family member, 36-year-old Christopher Peden, was missing.
Police later found Peden with an apparent stab wound. While being taken to a hospital, he initially claimed he had been stabbed somewhere in downtown Fort Wayne and had been threatened the previous day.
Court documents state Peden later admitted he had not told investigators the truth.
Peden told police he went into the garage, cut off his penis with a kitchen knife, poured gasoline on it and set it on fire near the garage door. He then walked away and later encountered police.
Investigators recovered a red gasoline container, four lighters and a kitchen knife from the garage.
Peden is charged with Level 4 felony arson. A court hearing is scheduled for next week.