Alabama authorities have arrested a couple, Michael Shane Halstead and Karen Tysinger Halstead, after a gruesome discovery on their former property. The homeowners of the couple’s former residence stumbled upon a decomposed body inside a freezer in their backyard. The body is believed to be that of the Halsteads’ 19-year-old son, Logan Michael Halstead, who had ongoing medical issues, including spina bifida, and was receiving disability benefits. The shocking incident has led to the couple’s arrest, and they now face charges of Abuse of a Corpse.
On Sunday, the Henry County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call and made the grisly discovery at the address on Bradford Drive in Jack, Alabama. The Halsteads were questioned and later arrested in Coffee County. In their first court appearance, they were each granted a bond of $175,000 by Judge James Peterson.
The couple’s 13-year-old twin boys have been placed under the care of the Alabama Department of Human Resources. The new homeowners, who purchased the property in September, came across the decomposed body while cleaning their new home. According to Sheriff Eric Blankenship, the body had been in the freezer since late August.
The investigation is ongoing, and an official autopsy is being conducted by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences to determine the cause of death. Depending on the autopsy results, the parents could potentially face murder charges.
In a disturbing turn of events, Michael Halstead reportedly took elaborate measures to hide his son’s body. He wrapped Logan’s body in a plastic bag, blankets, and a shower curtain, covering it in cardboard before placing it in the backyard freezer. The Halstead family moved into a hotel room to further conceal the crime. While Michael claimed that his wife had no knowledge of the alleged crime, authorities suspect otherwise. Michael contacted the Headland Police Department on October 11, revealing the location of his son’s body. However, when officers searched the property, they did not locate the hidden body.
This deeply distressing incident continues to be under investigation, and further details are expected to emerge as the case progresses.
