JULY 8--An Indiana man cut off his penis with a kitchen knife, poured gasoline on his severed member, and then set it on fire in his family’s garage, according to police who arrested the suspect for arson, according to a harrowing court filing.

Investigators allege that Christopher Peden, 36, set the fire at a Fort Wayne residence owned by his mother.

At the same time fire officials were investigating the 2 AM blaze, police were responding to a reported stabbing at the property. They quickly realized that the “victim of the stabbing and the missing resident of the fire were the same person,” according to a probable cause affidavit.

After Peden was located by cops, he claimed to have been stabbed “somewhere downtown Fort Wayne.” However, after Peden was transported to Parkview Regional Medical Center, he reportedly said he had lied about the stabbing “and wanted to be truthful.”

Peden (seen at right) then told officers that he had gone into the detached garage around 2 AM and “harmed himself with a kitchen knife, cutting off his penis.” He then “poured gasoline on his penis and set it on fire on the floor of the garage just inside the door.” Peden added that he “left the garage and began walking away from property until he encountered police.”

In the court affidavit, a Fort Wayne Fire Department investigator reported collecting evidence from the garage that included a gasoline container, four BIC lighters, and a kitchen knife. The affidavit does not address whether any body parts were recovered.

Details of the May 6 incident only emerged following Peden’s initial court appearance earlier this month. Peden, who yesterday was freed from custody after posting $10,000 bond, is scheduled for a July 13 court appearance. His rap sheet includes a pair of drunk driving convictions.

The court filing does not detail the extent of Peden’s injuries or why he harmed himself. (2 pages)