Arizona Man Accused of Murdering Father, Then Dismembering, Burning Body With Mother's Help

An Arizona man and his mother have been arrested after he allegedly killed his father, dismembered the body and then lit the remains on fire with the help of his mother, according to authorities.

Around 1:45 a.m. on July 24, the Casa Grande Fire Department responded to a call for a fire in Casa Grande and saw a person running from the property once they arrived, according to local police.

Firefighters ordered the man to stop, but he kept running away, officials said. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze in a 55-gallon metal barrel and inside they found what are believed to be human remains.

Officers from the Casa Grande Police Department arrived at the home and started investigating the incident.

Around 2:15 a.m., a call came into 911 from 32-year-old Christopher Chase, who allegedly said he “disposed of a body by burning it and ran away when the fire department arrived,” authorities said.

According to police, Chase called 911 from another home in Casa Grande, where he allegedly held a 57-year-old woman, 68-year-old man and 41-year-old man at gunpoint. Chase reportedly demanded their car keys, but then called 911 to turn himself in. None of the victims were physically injured.

Police said Christopher Chase and his father, Thomas Chase, got into a fight on July 22, which resulted in Christopher allegedly shooting and killing Thomas.

After the shooting, Christopher’s mother, Melissa Chase, allegedly helped “in the concealment and cleanup of evidence,” authorities said.

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Christopher was arrested and charged with murder, abandonment/concealment of a dead body, kidnapping, aggravated assault, burglary and tampering with evidence, officials said.

Melissa was arrested and charged with abandonment/concealment of a dead body and tampering with evidence. Both were booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center, police said.

Officials said the investigation is ongoing and the exact cause of death will be determined by a medical examiner’s office.