Son Who Reported Parents Missing Implicated After Dad's Dismembered Body Found, Mother Still Missing

A 23-year-old man from Wisconsin, who had reported his parents missing, has been implicated in an alleged killing, after his father's dismembered body was found dumped in a rural area in the state, according to the authorities.

Chandler Michael Halderson, 23, has been accused of shooting and dismembering his father Bart Halderson, 50, before disposing of the patriarch's remains in a far-flung area. The young Halderson had allegedly lied to police officers after reporting his parents missing last week, saying that the couple had gone away to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend and never returned. His mother Krista Halderson, 53, still remains missing, Law&Crime reported.

Halderson reported his parents missing on Wednesday, July 7. He had told the police that his parents had traveled on July 2 to their cabin near White Lake for the Fourth of July weekend and have been incommunicado since. He claimed that the couple was accompanied by an unidentified duo. Halderson also alleged that his mother sent him a text on July 4 saying that they had arrived in White Lake and were going to attend a parade there.

Investigators later discovered that there was no parade that day in White Lake and that there were “no signs of immediate activity” at the family cabin, Madison.com reported.

Witnesses reportedly told the investigators that Halderson was at an acquaintance’s address on Thursday, July 8. He was also reportedly seen driving his vehicle in reverse with the hatchback open in a field near a wooded area. The police searched the area and found a human torso belonging to Halderson's father Bart.

“Preliminary results from the autopsy confirm that Bart died from homicidal violence including firearm injury,” the medical examiner’s office said.

The Halderson son was arrested on Thursday, July 8, for allegedly providing false information to investigators. On Monday, July 12, authorities added three more felony charges of first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse, and mutilating a corpse.

“At this point, we have an extremely complex investigation,” Deputy District Attorney William Brown told reporters. “We have a defendant who had six days to hide evidence of his crime and lied to police in the course of this missing persons' investigation, which he instigated. He has lied dozens of times in the course of this investigation. He is now seen leaving the area in which the dismembered remains of his father were found with gunshot wounds.”

Police are reportedly still searching for Krista's remains at Haldersons’ home and the area where Bart's body was found. Krista is described as white, about 5-foot-3 tall with red hair and blue eyes, and about 155 pounds in weight.

Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is urged to contact the sheriff's office’s tip line at 608-284-6900.