17-year-old kills dad, then dumps body in a trash can and into river, Indiana cops say

A father who disappeared under “suspicious circumstances” is now believed to have been killed by his teenage son, Indiana authorities say.

The Indianapolis Metro Police Department said 17-year-old David Perry was arrested and charged with murder in the death of his father, 35-year-old Brandon Perry, who was last seen alive May 26.

Brandon Perry’s body has not been found as of June 6, when police announced the arrest.

Authorities began looking for Brandon Perry in late May when his trailer was found abandoned about three miles from his last known location, police said. His truck was found two days later, but there was no sign of the 35-year-old father.

Police said video surveillance, physical evidence and interviews tied David Perry to his father’s disappearance and suspected killing.

While David Perry lived with his father, it was Brandon Perry’s sister who reported him missing three days after he was last seen, according to court documents obtained by WRTV.

David Perry did not mention anything about his father being missing until a family member asked if he had seen him, WTHR reported.

It was the sister, WXIN reported, who discovered a “large amount of blood” on the bottom of her brother’s mattress, police said. Blood was later found by investigators on the basement stairs of the Perry home, according to police.

Investigators went on to find a “makeshift burn pit” beside the home, where the father’s driver’s license was also located, according to WTHR, citing an affidavit.

Missing from the home was Brandon Perry’s handgun and one of the family’s two trash cans — an item authorities say was used to dispose of the father, police said, according to WXIN.

Officers say they reviewed David Perry’s text messages, which revealed he had gotten into an argument with his father, according to WRTV. Police say the teenager killed his father, then put his body in a trash can.

David Perry told his aunt his father “is in the White River and that he was in a trash can,” WXIN reported, citing court documents. The teenager also indicated the lid to the trash can “wasn’t going to open.”

The teenager was further tied to the crime by surveillance footage showing him abandon his father’s truck in the location where it was eventually discovered, police said, according to WRTV. Blood was also reportedly found in the bed of the truck.

Police said they are is still working to find Brandon Perry’s body.

This story was originally published June 6, 2024 at 3:30 PM with the headline "17-year-old kills dad, then dumps body in a trash can and into river, Indiana cops say."