Son realized his name was not on the deed and might lose the property, so he put his father’s dead body in a fridge and kept it for 4 years; charged
Arizona – In a chilling case in Arizona, a man was charged with concealing his deceased father’s body in a fridge for over four years to maintain residence in the family home. The 51-year-old son, identified as J. Hill, faces a misdemeanor for failing to report a death and a felony for concealing a dead body, with potential additional charges pending, as reported by the authorities.
The bizarre saga began unfolding last week when police received a tip about a body allegedly stored at a residence. Upon arriving at the scene on October 22, authorities met Hill, who initially refused them entry but hinted that his father had died years prior. Later that day, armed with a search warrant, detectives returned and were told by Hill that they would find something in the fridge.
Inside an unplugged fridge in the backyard, investigators discovered skeletal remains, which Hill claimed were those of his father. However, the Office of the Medical Examiner has yet to confirm the identity of the remains or determine the cause of death.
According to police, Hill was present when his father took his last breath at their home over four years ago. Fearing the loss of the house as his name was not on the deed, Hill decided not to report the death. Instead, he purchased a fridge the following day to prevent the body from decomposing and initially planned to bury his father on a plot of land he owned. This plan was thwarted first by a power loss due to a fire and subsequently by other unsuccessful attempts to bury the body in the desert, as Hill allegedly found the area too crowded each time he tried.
As detailed in court documents obtained, Hill’s attempts to manage the situation grew increasingly desperate. After another fire in June 2023 at the house led to another loss of power, Hill purportedly began moving the fridge back and forth in his truck, hoping to find a remote desert location for burial. Over time, thwarted by circumstances and perhaps resignation, he left the fridge powered down in his backyard, where it remained for several months with the body inside.
Inside the fridge, police found not only the remains but also an assortment of items including a tarp, moving blankets, plastic wrap, duct tape, ratchet straps, bed sheets, and “an extensive amount of biological matter.” The case, as described by authorities, is one of the most shocking and vile acts, involving the calculated concealment of a death by a son who seemed more concerned with property rights than a decent burial for his father. Neighbors reported that Hill had lived in the house with his parents for many years, and some recalled a recent fire at the property, which has been under construction for some time.
Hill was arrested and is being held at the county’s jail, awaiting his arraignment. As the investigation continues, the community and law enforcement are left to piece together the details of this disturbing case, which has not only revealed a tragic family secret but also highlighted the extreme lengths to which individuals might go to hold onto what they fear losing.