Fort Wayne Man Charged With Arson After Shocking Self-Harm Incident

When a detached garage in Fort Wayne caught fire on May 6, neighbors thought they were witnessing a criminal act. Police and firefighters rushed to the scene after receiving a call about a stabbing. What they found instead was something far more disturbing—a case of severe self-harm that would lead to felony charges and raise serious questions about mental health intervention.

Christopher Peden, a family member staying with the property owners, was found near the burning garage. Initially, he told officers he’d been stabbed by someone downtown and threatened the day before. It was a cover story that unraveled quickly. After being hospitalized, Peden allegedly confessed to investigators that he’d inflicted the injuries himself. According to his attorney, David Feltz, Peden walked into the garage with a kitchen knife and severed his own penis, then doused it with gasoline from a container and ignited it using four lighters.

The incident left authorities grappling with how to proceed. Peden was arrested and charged with felony arson, booked into the Allen County Jail with his bond set at $10,000. He’s no longer in custody. But the legal response only tells part of the story. Feltz is now investigating his client’s mental state at the time of the alleged incident, a detail that might prove crucial in understanding what led to such extreme self-harm.

This case sits at an uncomfortable intersection of criminal law and mental health crisis. The facts are shocking, yes—but they’re also a window into what happens when someone reaches a breaking point. Peden is in stable condition, according to Feltz, but the real question isn’t about arson charges or jail time. It’s about what was happening inside this man’s mind that drove him to such desperate action. The fire was just the visible aftermath.