Published July 10, 2026

Updated July 15, 2026

In July 2026, Snopes readers searched the website asking us to investigate a very unusual crime supposedly committed in Fort Wayne, Indiana. According to social media posts, a man named Christopher Peden faced one count of arson for allegedly cutting off his penis and using it to set his mother's garage on fire. 

Several news outlets in the region published articles documenting the alleged incident. Peden's case appeared in the Indiana court system, but court documents that would provide a more complete picture of events were not available online.  Snopes was able to obtain those documents by contacting the Allen County court clerk. 

The claim is true, based on the affidavit for probable cause issued for Peden's arrest. He faced one felony count of arson.

We also reached out to the Fort Wayne Police Department and the Indiana State Police to obtain more information. The Indiana State Police declined to comment, and we have not heard back from the Fort Wayne police. 

According to the reports and the affidavit, on May 6, 2026, the Fort Wayne Fire Department responded to a garage fire around the same time local police were dispatched to a reported stabbing in which Peden was the victim. He said he had been stabbed downtown after being threatened the day prior.

But while Peden was at the hospital being treated for his injuries (the reports did not specify the nature of those injuries), he reportedly told an officer that the stabbing story wasn't true.

Instead, according to Peden, he had gone into the garage at 2 a.m., used a kitchen knife to cut off his penis, poured gasoline onto the organ and lit it on fire, the news outlets reported. He then left the garage and walked away until he found police.

Local news outlets reported investigators found a gasoline container, four lighters and a kitchen knife in the garage.

By Jack Izzo

Jack Izzo is a Chicago-based journalist and two-time "Jeopardy!" alumnus.