Wisconsin man who reported his parents missing charged in father's grisly death

A 23-year-old Wisconsin man has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, accused of shooting and dismembering his father then hiding his remains.

Chandler Halderson was also officially charged with providing false information on a kidnapped or missing person, mutilating a corpse and hiding a corpse, according to court records. His bond was set at $1 million Thursday.

He reported his parents, Bart and Krista Halderson, missing on July 7, but was arrested a day later for providing false information to police, investigators said.

The Dane County Sheriff's Office said they found human remains belonging to Bart Halderson, 50, on July 8.

The medical examiner announced Monday that Bart died from "homicidal violence including firearm injury," and Chandler Halderson was held on tentative charges, including intentional homicide.

Following a tip, additional human remains were located Wednesday near a Department of Natural Resources property near the town of Roxbury, the sheriff's office revealed in a press conference Thursday.

A witness reported to police seeing a person matching Chandler’s description in the area on July 3. Those remains are in the process of being identified.

Krista Halderson, 53, is still missing.

"At this moment we are optimistic that Krista is still alive and well and we will let the evidence from our investigation tell us otherwise," Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said Thursday.

According to a probable cause statement released by the county, witnesses placed Chandler at an acquaintance's address in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, on July 5, when he was seen "reversing his vehicle with the rear hatch open in a field near a wooded area." A human torso identified as Bart Halderson was found nearby.

The suspect told police his parents had spent July Fourth weekend at their cabin in White Lake, Langlade County, with an unknown couple, and they never returned. But when authorities searched the lake house, they found no evidence that anyone had been there.

"Halderson reported that his parents, Krista and Bart Halderson, were picked up by an unknown acquaintance in the early hours of July 1, 2021, to travel to the family's cabin in White Lake, Wisconsin," the probable cause statement said. "Halderson reported that his mother Krista had sent him a text message on July 4, 2021, stating that they had arrived and were in White Lake, and were planning on attending a parade that day. Investigation revealed that where was no parade and that Krista and Bart Halderson did not travel to their cabin in White Lake."

Chandler Halderson was arrested once investigators discovered his father's remains.

"Chandler Halderson did know that his parents didn't travel to the cabin, and intentionally made false statements to law enforcement regarding his parent's whereabouts," the statement concluded.

Deputies are still processing the Halderson house and officials are asking for any members of the public to come forward with tips. Anyone with information on the case can call the tip line at 608-284-6900.

"This is a very active and ongoing investigation," Barrett said.