Overview
- Court records say Christopher Peden admitted he cut off his penis inside his mother’s detached garage and used the severed organ to start a fire that damaged the garage plus two nearby homes and two vehicles.
- Fire investigators recovered a red gasoline container, four lighters and a kitchen knife at the May 6 scene but court documents do not state whether the severed tissue was recovered.
- The Allen County Prosecutor’s Office charged Peden with one count of Level 4 felony arson and he was released on a $10,000 bond with conditions restricting travel out of Indiana.
- Peden’s attorney has said he will investigate Peden’s mental state, a factor prosecutors and defense are likely to examine during pretrial proceedings and competency or mitigation reviews.
- If convicted of Level 4 arson in Indiana the charge can carry up to about 12 years in prison and fines, and Peden is due back in Allen County court next week for a hearing to set trial dates.