Indiana man accused of murder in body-in-freezer case
(CBS/AP) INDIANAPOLIS - An Indiana man is accused of murder after police say they found a decomposing body in a freezer in the man's home.
The body of 29-year-old Alex Shipp was found Sunday in the basement of the Kokomo home of Walter Logan, about 50 miles north of Indianapolis.
Authorities said Shipp had been drinking, taking drugs and having sex with the man now accused in his death.
Logan, 52, was being held without bond on a preliminary charge of murder in the Howard County Jail. He is scheduled for an initial court appearance on Wednesday.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Logan told police that he and Shipp developed a sexual relationship after meeting about two years ago. He said he and Shipp had sex one night about four weeks before Shipp's body was found.
Logan said the two were drinking and taking drugs and that Shipp became belligerent and wanted to fight. He said he bound Shipp's hands and feet and placed tape over his nose and mouth, then fell asleep.
Logan allegedly told police that when he awoke, he thought Shipp was dead but removed the tape and went back to sleep. He was certain Shipp was dead when he awoke again, but he waited about six hours before hauling his body to the basement.
The affidavit stated that Logan told police he removed the shelving from the freezer and stuffed Shipp's body inside the freezer, which was not plugged in.
Worried that she hadn't heard from him since early November, Shipp's mother reported him missing on Saturday. She posted flyers that produced a tip that Logan and Shipp were seen together at Logan's home, where police went to question him.
Logan told police he was expecting them, according to court documents. Investigators noticed a strong stench and asked Logan if Shipp was there. He led them to the basement freezer, which had been laid flat on the floor with a concrete block holding the door shut.
Investigators don't know whether Logan had intended to kill Shipp, Detective Michael Banush said Tuesday.
"We don't always get those answers," Banush said. But "it's just common sense if you duct tape someone's mouth and nose and then go to sleep" that they're likely to die.
Logan told police he tried to kill himself by ingesting pills and wrote a suicide note, but he fell asleep before he could finish it.
Logan served about three years in prison on a drug-dealing conviction, according to Indiana Department of Correction records.
More on Crimesider
Dec. 4, 2012 - Indiana police find body in freezer