73-year-old man died after his 33-year-old son he was having problems with used a foot-long blade to stab him in the chest before cutting his head off; son arrested

Indiana – In one of the most brutal homicides Indiana has ever witnessed, a 33-year-old man, identified as Bryce W., has been arrested after police say he murdered his 73-year-old father, identified as Erich W., with a foot-long knife and then decapitated him in his own home. Bryce now faces charges of murder and abuse of a corpse following the gruesome killing of his elderly father.

The shocking case began around 10 a.m. on Friday, when Erich’s ex-wife—concerned after hearing nothing from him—called police to request a welfare check at his home. She told authorities her son and ex-husband had been having serious issues, raising fears for Erich’s safety. Officers arrived at the scene and quickly realized something was horribly wrong.

Inside the home, police discovered Erich’s body in his bedroom. He had been stabbed multiple times in the chest and showed signs of fighting back, with defensive wounds evident on his arms. The walls were streaked with blood, and near the scene, officers recovered a knife with a 1-foot-long blade. Investigators said the knife showed signs of striking “hard substances,” likely during the attack.

While detectives were still processing the crime scene, Bryce called his mother—who was still present at the house—and confessed to the killing. “I killed him,” he allegedly said. “I went over to dad’s because he is the evilest person that ever lived. I cut his head off.” Police then tracked Bryce to his mother’s residence, just over a mile from the crime scene. Officers arrived to find him holding a plastic bag the size of a human head, along with another knife. As they approached, Bryce ran inside and refused to surrender.

A standoff followed. The SWAT team was called in, deploying flash-bang devices in an effort to gain compliance. After about four tense hours, Bryce finally exited the home and was taken into custody. Inside the residence, officers made another grim discovery—the severed head of Erich was found in Bryce’s bedroom.

Detective S. Moss confirmed to reporters that it was “a very apparent homicide,” describing the scene as deeply disturbing. Chief K. Kavanaugh added, “Let’s please keep in mind, we have a family that was affected by the result of this.” He called the incident “horrific.”

Bryce remains behind bars at the county jail as the investigation continues. Neighbors expressed disbelief over the violence that shattered their otherwise quiet street. Authorities have not yet released a motive beyond the troubled relationship between father and son. For now, the community is left with the devastation of a murder that will not soon be forgotten—a family torn apart, and a life ended in a way no one can ever explain.