'I Did It': Police Say D.C. Man Admitted Decapitating Mummified Body Found In His Backyard

A Washington, D.C, man called police to report finding a decapitated, dismembered and mummified body in his backyard earlier this month, but now police say that same man has turned himself in and told them, “I did it.”

On Feb. 3, LaVaughn Barnes, 32, and his sister, who owns the home they share, called police after Barnes said he found the body while he was cleaning out the backyard.

The body was identified as Abdulio Arias-Lopez, a handyman who had done work for Barnes on several occasions, WJLA reported.

On Feb. 15, Barnes went to the police station and told police the victim was a handyman he allegedly killed back on Nov. 4, 2022, WTOP reported.

Barnes also told police he wanted to be executed and was having suicidal thoughts. He stated he “repented to God for his actions,” which is why he confessed, WTOP stated.

He said he met with Arias-Lopez and got extremely angry – so angry that he decided he was going to kill the man and bought a taser, according to police.

On the day of the murder, Barnes said he was in the kitchen while Arias-Lopez was getting ready to paint a room. That's when Barnes said he was overcome with rage for no apparent reason and he fired the taser at the man’s head, police said.

Arias-Lopez hit the floor, which caused a cut on his head, WTOP reported.

Barnes then allegedly punched and kicked the handyman before dragging him downstairs, where he stabbed him twice in the buttocks, police said.

He then went to a hardware store, where he bought an ax to dismember the body, according to police, who said Barnes threw the arms, head and Arias-Lopez’s personal documents in the trash and garbage collectors hauled them away, the Washington Post reported.

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Barnes allegedly covered the rest of the remains with trash bags and placed them in his backyard.

Investigators found blood stains in the basement, as well as a machete, a large knife with a sheath, four folding knives, brass knuckles, a Taser, cleaning supplies and paint, according to court documents.

Barnes was held without bond and is due back in court on March 29.