Wisconsin man whose mother is missing accused of shooting, dismembering father

Police are trying to find a Wisconsin woman whose son is accused of shooting and dismembering his father before reporting the couple missing.

On the morning of July 7, Chandler Halderson, 23, told the Dane County Sheriff’s Office his father, Bart Halderson, 50, and mother, 53-year-old Krista Halderson, had gone from their home in Oak Springs Circle to their cabin in White Lake, Wisconsin, with someone six days earlier to spend the Fourth of July holiday but then disappeared. Local authorities checked the property but did not find signs anyone was there, Madison's WMTV reported.

The following day, Bart Halderson’s dismembered body was found in Cottage Grove. His son was allegedly spotted reversing a vehicle “with the rear hatch open in a field near a wooded area” where a human torso was recovered, People reported, citing a probable cause statement.

Police took the couple’s 23-year-old son, Chandler Halderson, into custody on July 8 for allegedly providing false information in a kidnapping investigation.

He also faces tentative charges of first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and hiding a corpse, according to Dane County Sheriff’s Office online records.

The investigation into the death is ongoing and Krista Halderson remains missing.

“At this point we have an extremely complex investigation,” Deputy District Attorney William Brown said, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. “We have a defendant who had six days to hide evidence of his crime, and lied to police in the course of this missing persons investigation, which he instigated. He has lied dozens of times in the course of this investigation. He is now seen leaving the area in which the dismembered remains of his father were found with gunshot wounds.”

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information related to the case call the Tip Line at (608) 284-6900. Callers can remain anonymous.