Ariz. man arrested for keeping father’s skeletal remains in backyard freezer for 4 years

TEMPE, Ariz. (TCN) — Police arrested a 51-year-old man for reportedly failing to report his father’s death four years ago and keeping the deceased man’s skeletal remains in his backyard freezer.

According to the Arizona Republic, on Oct. 22, the Tempe Police Department reportedly received a tip about a tarp-covered freezer in Joseph Hill Jr.’s backyard containing Hill’s father’s remains. Officers reportedly went to Hill’s home and asked to look in the freezer, but he refused and said his father died in Oregon several years prior. Detectives took over the case and confirmed that Joseph Hill Sr. was dead, even though his Social Security payments were collected in March 2023.

Court records cited by KTVK-TV say detectives went to the residence and found the freezer hidden under several layers, including two moving blankets, plastic wrap, sheets, duct tape, and a tarp. When they managed to open the appliance, they discovered Hill Sr.’s apparent skeletal remains and “an extensive amount of biological matter.”

Hill Jr. was arrested and told police that he bought the freezer immediately after his father’s death. He did not want to report it because Hill Jr.’s name was not on the deed to the house and he didn’t want to lose his residence.

KTVK reports Hill Jr. bought a piece of property in Strawberry and had plans to bury his father there, but then a fire caused him to lose power. He brought the freezer back with him to the Tempe home. A fire in 2023 in Tempe reportedly led to another power outage, so Hill Jr. allegedly hauled the freezer to the desert to bury his father, but he saw other people around when he tried to do it.

He returned to Tempe with the freezer, which has reportedly been without power for about four to six months.

The medical examiner will conduct an autopsy to confirm the identity of the remains. Court records show Hill Jr. was arrested and charged with concealing a dead body and failure to report a death.

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