Chandler Halderson

Chandler Halderson
Halderson in 2022.
Born
Chandler Michael Halderson

(1998-03-15) March 15, 1998 (age 26)
Windsor, Wisconsin, U.S.
Criminal statusIncarcerated at Dodge Correctional Institution
Parent(s)Bart Halderson
Krista Halderson
Conviction(s)First-degree intentional homicide
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment without the possibility of parole

Chandler Halderson (born March 15, 1998) is an American criminal who murdered and dismembered his parents, Bart and Krista Halderson, in Dane County, Wisconsin, in July 2021.[1][2] He reported both of his parents missing on July 7, and while being questioned on July 8, authorities found a mutilated torso with several bullet wounds in the woods near a home Chandler was reported to have visited. The remains were determined to be those of Bart Halderson. A week later on July 14, a pair of dismembered legs, identified as Krista Halderson, were found near the Wisconsin River, a spot Chandler often visited. Chandler was arrested initially for lying to detectives but would be subsequently charged with the murders and dismemberments of his parents.[3][4]

Trial

Chandler Halderson was charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, providing false information on missing persons, mutilating a corpse, and hiding a corpse.[2] Halderson entered a plea of not guilty, and went to trial in January 2022, with opening statements starting on January 4. Prosecutors argued that Chandler murdered his parents after they discovered he was lying about various aspects of his life. Chandler had stated numerous times that he was attending Madison Area Technical College, was an employee with the local branch of American Family Insurance and was planning to move to Titusville, Florida, with his girlfriend Cathryn Mellender, where he would be working at SpaceX.

They stated that after being confronted by his father Bart on why he wasn't making any money, Bart called Madison College on behalf of Chandler, where he found out Chandler was not actually enrolled with the school. Prosecutors believe that on a day Bart planned to attend a meeting with Chandler at MATC, Chandler shot him in the back with a high-powered rifle gifted to him by a friend. They believe that shortly after killing his father, he texted his mother Krista, who he also killed when she arrived home. Her specific cause of death couldn't be determined, as the only remains of Krista that would be found were her legs. Halderson was convicted on all charges and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Thursday, March 17, 2022.[5][6][7][8]

References

  1. ^ Moriarty, Erin (Aug 18, 2024). "Chandler Halderson case: Did a Wisconsin man's lies lead to the murder of his parents Bart and Krista Halderson? - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved Oct 19, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Probable Cause Statement" (PDF). bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com. 2021-07-09.
  3. ^ Langrehr, Jaymes (Jan 5, 2022). "Family friends dispute version of events described by Chandler Halderson". WMSN. Retrieved Nov 4, 2024.
  4. ^ Langrehr, Jaymes (Jan 5, 2022). "Halderson went door-to-door asking about security video, neighbors say". WMSN. Retrieved Nov 4, 2024.
  5. ^ Journal, Chris Rickert | Wisconsin State (Apr 20, 2023). "Chandler Halderson still sentenced to life in prison in parents' murder after judge vacates 2 lesser convictions". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved Oct 19, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Tornabene, Juliana (Mar 17, 2022). "Chandler Halderson sentenced to life without possibility of parole". www.wmtv15news.com. Retrieved Oct 19, 2024.
  7. ^ "Man Who Played Video Games All Day, Lied About SpaceX Job, and Dismembered His Parents Heads to Prison for Life". Mar 17, 2022. Retrieved Oct 19, 2024.
  8. ^ "Wisconsin Man Gets Life Sentence In Parents' Dismemberment Killings". Oxygen Official Site. Mar 18, 2022. Retrieved Oct 19, 2024.