Alabama parents arrested after 19-year-old’s decomposed body found in backyard freezer

The parents of a teen whose decomposed body was discovered by new homeowners in a backyard freezer are under arrest, authorities in Alabama said.

Michael Shane Halstead, 44, and Karen Tysinger Halstead, 43, were arrested and charged with abuse of corpse, The Birmingham News reported. The home’s buyers made the gruesome discovery on Sunday as they were cleaning up post-purchase. They called 911 at 11:37 a.m., and guided arriving deputies to the decomposing remains. Logan Michael Halsted, 19, was the likely deceased, and he may have died as far back as July or August, Henry County Sheriff Eric Blankenship told The Birmingham News.

Halsted’s family, who had rented the home, moved away more than a month earlier, Blankenship said. They had reportedly skipped out on rent, sources told WDHN-TV. Henry County is just southeast of Atlanta.

The landlord then sold the home. The buyers found the freezer overturned in the backyard and decided to clean it out before hauling it away because it was too heavy to load, Blankenship said. They opened it, spotted a hand, and called police.

The parents were nabbed later Sunday and were being held on $175,000 bond each after a court appearance Monday. Halsted’s body was being autopsied at the Alabama Department of Forensic Science.

“This incident is a very tragic situation, and our agency is committed to finding out the truth,’’ Blankenship said, noting that more charges could be forthcoming.