Decomposed teen’s body found in backyard freezer, parents arrested

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WASHINGTON, Nov 1, (Agencies): An Alabama couple has been taken into police custody after allegedly placing the deceased body of their 19-year-old son in a freezer.

On Sunday, Henry County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Michael Shane Halstead, 44, and Karen Tysinger Halstead, 42, in Jack, Alabama, located in Coffee County, as reported by Henry County Sheriff Eric Blankenship. The couple currently remains in police custody at the Henry County Jail, facing one count of Abuse of a Corpse.

Sheriff Blankenship recounted, “We received a call at 11:37 am, and when officers responded, they discovered the body at 296 Bradford Drive.” The decomposed body, believed to be that of 19-year-old Logan Michael Halstead, was found in a freezer outside the Halstead’s previous residence.

Subsequently, the Halsteads underwent questioning before being officially charged. After their arrest in Jack, they were transported back to Henry County. During their initial court appearance on Monday, Judge James Peterson presided and set their bond at $175,000 each, according to Sheriff Blankenship.

The couple’s youngest children, 13-year-old twin boys, are currently under the care of the Alabama Department of Human Resources.

The Halsteads’ former residence was sold to new homeowners in September. While cleaning their recently acquired property, these new homeowners stumbled upon the decomposed body.

Sheriff Blankenship revealed that the body had been in the freezer since late August and conveyed the tragic nature of the situation, adding that the investigation is still in progress, with updates forthcoming as the case develops.

Moreover, he mentioned that the department is currently in the initial stages of the inquiry, and the deceased’s body has been sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for an official autopsy. Additionally, the sheriff noted that the department is collaborating with the Social Security Administration, as the deceased had been receiving disability benefits due to ongoing medical issues, which included spina bifida. Depending on the autopsy results, the parents could potentially face murder charges.

It was alleged that Michael attempted to conceal his son’s body from his wife and their other children. Before placing Logan in the backyard freezer, Michael had wrapped his son’s body in a plastic bag, blankets, and a shower curtain, covering him in cardboard. Subsequently, the family had relocated to a hotel room, further hiding the act.

During court proceedings, Michael indicated that his wife was unaware of the alleged crime. Still, authorities believe that she knew the situation before the arrests were made, according to Sheriff Blankenship.

The unsettling case initially came to light when Michael contacted the Headland Police Department on October 11, disclosing that he had concealed his son’s body. Law enforcement officers searched the property but failed to locate the hidden body, eventually leaving without finding any evidence.

This news has been read 778 times!