Police say a man allegedly kept his father’s decomposing body in a freezer to avoid losing his home

TEMPE, AZ. (KPHO/Gray News) – An Arizona man allegedly stored his father’s body in a backyard freezer for years because he didn’t want to lose his home.

Tempe police received information online that a man had stored his father’s body in a freezer behind the house.

Upon arrival, officers spoke with 51-year-old Joseph Daniel Hill Jr., who said his father died four years ago in Oregon.

Joseph Daniel Hill Jr. He reportedly told Tempe police that he kept his father's body in... — Joseph Daniel Hill Jr. he reportedly told Tempe police that he kept his father’s body in the freezer for years because he was afraid of losing his home.(Arizona Family/Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)

Hill refused the officers’ request to check the freezer in the backyard and the case was turned over to detectives for further action, – KPHO reported.

Investigators used “extensive resources” to learn more about Joseph Hill Sr., but found no record of his death.

Detectives determined that Hill Sr. was still listed as a homeowner and receiving Social Security benefits until March 2023.

Detectives obtained a search warrant and returned to the home.

The documents show that Hill Jr.’s behavior changed and told police “there will be something in the freezer.”

In the backyard, detectives retrieved a tarp, two moving blankets, several layers of saran wrap, sheets, two ratchet straps and multiple layers of duct tape from the freezer.

The documents show that police found skeletal remains and “a large amount of biological matter” inside.

After reading the Miranda Rights, the man allegedly told detectives he was there when his father “took his last breath” at home more than four years ago.

He allegedly admitted that he did not report the death because he was not on the deed list and was afraid of losing his home.

After his dad died, he bought a freezer the next day. He said he planned to bury it on a plot of land he had purchased, but there was a fire on the property and the power was lost, so he ended up bringing the freezer back to Tempe.

Documents show the freezer had been sitting in the yard without electricity for the past four to six months.

He was arrested and charged with failing to report the death and concealing the body.

It will now be up to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office to confirm whether the body is Hill Sr.’s and also try to determine how he died.