Date: July 14th, 2026 11:25 AM
Author: Karlstack ( )
https://www.wane.com/news/indiana-man-charged-with-arson-had-cut-off-genitals-and-set-them-on-fire-investigators-say/
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WXIN) – What started as an investigation into a stabbing and arson in Indiana took a disturbing turn after a man admitted he’d set his own genitals on fire.
Fire officials began an investigation into the fire at a detached garage in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on May 6. Around the same time, police were responding to a reported stabbing in the area, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The property owners of the garage told officials that a neighbor woke them up to alert them to the fire. The owners also noticed a family member, 36-year-old Christopher Peden, was missing, they said.
Fort Wayne police, meanwhile, encountered a stabbing victim who turned out to be Peden, according to court documents. As he was being transported to a hospital, he claimed he’d been stabbed somewhere in downtown Fort Wayne. He also said he’d been threatened the day before.
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Later, Peden admitted to investigators that he was “dishonest” about the stabbing and “wanted to be truthful,” according to court documents.
That’s when he revealed what he said was the actual cause of the fire.
Peden said he went to the garage and “harmed himself” by “cutting off his penis” with a kitchen knife, according to court documents. He told investigators he then poured gasoline on it and “set it on fire on the floor of the garage just inside the door.” He walked away and eventually encountered police, the documents said.
Investigators later collected evidence from the garage, including a red plastic gas container, four lighters and a kitchen knife.
Peden has been charged with arson, a Level 4 felony. A hearing is scheduled for next week, according to court records.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5882640&forum_id=2.#49998769)