In a shocking revelation from Tempe, Arizona, authorities have uncovered a disturbing case where a man allegedly preserved his deceased father’s body in a freezer for four years, reportedly to maintain possession of their family home. The suspect, Joseph Hill, 51, was arrested last week on multiple charges, including concealment of a dead body and failure to report a death.
Grim discovery
“Detectives removed layers of tarp, blankets, saran wrap, and duct tape to find human skeletal remains in the freezer, as well as an ‘extensive amount of biological matter,'” according to court documents obtained by CNN.
The investigation began on October 22 when Tempe police received an anonymous online tip describing a suspicious freezer covered in tarp and blankets in Hill’s backyard. Initial attempts by law enforcement to inspect the freezer were met with resistance from Hill, who claimed his father had died in Oregon four years ago.
Further investigation revealed inconsistencies in Hill’s story when detectives discovered that his father, Joseph Hill Sr., was still listed as the property owner and had been receiving Social Security benefits until March 2023. Armed with a search warrant, detectives confronted Hill, whose “demeanor began to change” when confronted with the evidence.
Motive
After being read his Miranda Rights, Hill admitted that his father had died at their Tempe residence four years ago. He explained that he purchased the freezer to eventually bury his father in Strawberry, Arizona, where he had bought a plot of land.
According to police documents, Hill’s primary motivation was housing security. He told investigators he didn’t report his father’s death because he wasn’t on the property deed and feared losing his home
In a bizarre twist, Hill described moving the freezer between multiple locations due to power outages caused by fires at both his Tempe and Strawberry properties. He even attempted to bury the freezer in the desert several times but claimed he was deterred by the presence of “always people out there.”
Legal proceeding
Hill is currently facing criminal charges, with a bond set at $25,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 4, according to court records.
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting an autopsy to determine Joseph Hill Sr.’s cause of death, with results still pending.
