A 36-year-old Indiana man accused of severing his own genitals and using them to ignite a fire in a detached garage has been released from custody after posting bond, according to local court records.
The bizarre and harrowing series of events that unfolded in Fort Wayne on the morning of 6 May 2026 has taken a new turn as the suspect, Christopher Michael Peden, walked free pending his criminal trial. Peden, who faces a felony arson charge, was released after a $10,000 surety bond was posted on 7 July, despite the extreme nature of the allegations brought against him by the Allen County Prosecutor's Office.
