Overview
- The garage fire, which occurred on May 6, prompted police and firefighters to respond to separate reports of a blaze and a stabbing before investigators linked both incidents to 36-year-old Christopher Peden.
- Court documents say Peden told investigators he cut off his penis with a kitchen knife, poured gasoline on it, set it on fire inside a detached garage, then left the scene until he encountered police.
- Investigators recovered a red plastic gasoline container, four lighters and a kitchen knife at the garage, and those items are cited in the probable cause affidavit used to charge Peden.
- Peden has been charged with a Level 4 felony arson offense and is due back in court next week to set trial dates; news reports cite potential prison exposure reported as up to about 12 years.
- Key questions remain unanswered in public records, including whether the severed genitals were recovered, what forensics will show and whether prosecutors will seek mental-health evaluations as the case develops.