An Indiana man has been charged with felony arson after authorities say he started a fire inside a detached garage during an alleged self-harm incident in Fort Wayne. His attorney says the case has raised serious questions about his mental state as the legal process moves forward.
Police and firefighters responded to the property on May 6 after receiving a report of a stabbing and a fire at a detached garage. According to investigators, a nearby resident noticed flames coming from the garage and alerted the property owners, who later realized that a family member, identified as Christopher Peden, was missing.
While emergency crews were responding, Fort Wayne police encountered Peden away from the property. Investigators said he initially told officers that he had been stabbed by someone in the downtown area and had been threatened the previous day.
After being transported to a hospital for treatment, authorities said Peden admitted that his earlier account was false. Investigators allege he had intentionally injured himself inside the garage before using gasoline and several lighters to ignite a fire.
Court records show prosecutors charged Peden with felony arson in connection with the fire. He was later booked into the Allen County Jail, where his bond was set at $10,000. A jail representative later confirmed that he is no longer in custody.
Defense attorney David Feltz told TMZ that Peden is in stable condition while the defense continues reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident. Feltz said he is gathering information as he prepares the case and is examining Peden’s mental condition at the time of the alleged offense.
The allegations remain pending, and Peden is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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