In a shocking event in Indiana, authorities discovered a beheaded body in a home, with the head later found at a different location. The grim discovery was made on a Friday morning following a welfare check requested by the victim’s former spouse. The victim, 73-year-old Erich V. Winnecke Sr., was found in his Jeffersonville residence, near the Kentucky border.
The welfare check was initiated by the victim’s ex-wife, who expressed concern for his safety due to ongoing conflicts with their son, 33-year-old Bryce William Winnecke. The gravity of the situation was revealed in a 911 call, where the caller reported the beheading and the missing head.
Upon reaching the scene, officers were confronted with a horrifying sight. “It was a very apparent homicide,” Jeffersonville police Detective Sam Moss stated. The victim was discovered in his bedroom, exhibiting defensive wounds and multiple stab wounds to the chest. Blood splatter was evident on the bedroom walls, and a large knife, believed to be the murder weapon, was also found.
As the investigation progressed, Bryce Winnecke reportedly admitted to the crime during a phone call with his mother, who was at the victim’s residence. He allegedly said, “I killed him. I went over to dad’s because he is the evilest person that ever lived, I cut his head off.”
Upon discovering his location at his mother’s house, officers arrived to find Bryce Winnecke holding a plastic bag of a size consistent with a human head. He also held a knife and retreated into the house upon seeing the police, refusing to come out.
The situation escalated, leading to the involvement of a SWAT team. After deploying flash-bang devices, officers were able to coax Bryce Winnecke out of the house after a four-hour standoff. A subsequent search of the house led to the discovery of the victim’s head in the son’s bedroom.
The incident has left the community in shock, with neighbors expressing disbelief at the crime occurring in what they considered a safe neighborhood. Bryce Winnecke is currently being held at the Clark County Jail, facing charges of murder and abuse of a corpse.