Jack, Alabama — A shocking discovery in a small Alabama town has led to the arrest of a couple after their deceased 19-year-old son’s body was found in a freezer. Michael Shane Halstead, 44, and Karen Tysinger Halstead, 42, of Henry County, are facing charges of abusing a corpse following the grim finding at their former residence.
Authorities were alerted to the situation on Sunday morning, leading to the recovery of the body believed to be that of Logan Michael Halstead, the couple’s son, from a freezer at a house they previously occupied. According to Sheriff Eric Blankenship of Henry County, the property had been sold recently, and the new homeowners discovered the body while cleaning the premises.
Following their initial questioning, the Halsteads were arrested in the neighboring town of Jack and subsequently transported back to Henry County. Meanwhile, the couple’s 13-year-old twin boys have been placed under the care of the Alabama Department of Human Resources.
The Halsteads’ house in Jack was sold last September, and it was during a property clean-up that the new owners found the decomposed body, said Blankenship. The sheriff’s department believes the body had been in the freezer since late August, highlighting the case’s complexity and tragic nature.
“The investigation is still in its early stages,” Blankenship commented, emphasizing the department’s commitment to uncovering the full truth behind the young man’s death. The deceased’s body has been sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for an official autopsy, with the investigation also involving collaboration with the Social Security Administration, as the deceased had been receiving disability benefits for spina bifida.
While the autopsy’s results are pending, the sheriff mentioned the possibility of additional charges against the parents, depending on the findings. It was reported that Michael Halstead had initially attempted to conceal his son’s body from his wife and other children by wrapping it in various materials and hiding it in a freezer. After disposing of the body, the family temporarily moved to a hotel.
In a further twist, Michael Halstead claimed in court that his wife was unaware of the incident. However, Sheriff Blankenship indicated that authorities believe she had prior knowledge before their arrest. The case continues to unfold as more details are awaited from the ongoing investigation.