A man in Indiana, United States, allegedly cut off his penis and set it on fire using gasoline and lighters, according to his attorney.
Christopher Peden allegedly told police that he walked into a garage in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and severed his penis with a kitchen knife, his lawyer, David Feltz, told TMZ.
Feltz said Peden then allegedly placed the severed organ on the floor, poured gasoline from a container over it, and set it on fire using four lighters.
Police and firefighters responded to the incident on May 6 after receiving a report of a stabbing at a detached garage belonging to the property owners.
The homeowners were awakened by a concerned neighbour who noticed the garage was on fire. They then realised that Peden, a family member, was missing.
While responding to the scene, Fort Wayne police officers encountered Peden, who allegedly falsely claimed that he had been stabbed by someone downtown and had been threatened the previous day.
However, after being taken to hospital, Peden allegedly admitted to investigators that he had lied and confessed to mutilating himself.
He was later taken to the Allen County Jail, where he was booked and photographed. His bond was set at $10,000. Prosecutors have charged him with felony arson. A representative of the jail said he is no longer in custody.
Feltz said Peden is currently in stable condition as he gathers information to prepare his client’s defence. He added that the allegations are concerning and that he is investigating Peden’s mental state at the time of the alleged incident.
Source: TMZ