Arizona Father Arrested After Son’s Decomposing Body Found on Couch

Murder In The Morning | Daily True Crime News

An Arizona man has been arrested after authorities allegedly found his 9-year-old son's decomposing body on a couch in their home, according to multiple reports.
Joseph Gregory Antonsen, 38, was taken into custody following the grim discovery at the family’s residence in the Picture Rocks area on Sunday, July 14. The Arizona Republic, AZ Family, and KVOA reported on the arrest, citing a police news release.
Online jail records indicate that Antonsen is being held on a bond of $500,000 and faces charges of child abuse and negligent homicide. It is not immediately clear if he has entered pleas to the charges or retained an attorney.
The investigation began when authorities conducted a welfare check at the property and found Antonsen’s son lifeless on a couch. According to the news release, the boy's body was already in the process of decomposition. The Arizona Republic reported, citing the news release, that the home was in a state of severe neglect.
The Arizona Republic, referencing unspecified court documents, reported that Antonsen allegedly told officers his son had been unwell two days prior. He claimed he intended to take the child to the doctor, but the boy started “shuttering and going limp,” according to the documents. When Antonsen returned after turning on his car, he realized the boy was not breathing and did not have a pulse.
Instead of calling for help, Antonsen allegedly left the home for a period, leaving his son inside. The documents further allege that Antonsen knew he should have sought immediate assistance but failed to do so.
The police news release also described the deplorable conditions inside the home, which was filled with garbage such as “empty beer cans, large piles of soiled diapers, rotten food, bottles full of what appears to be urine, lots of insect activity, and spiders (black widow and brown recluse),” according to KOLD.
Neighbors expressed shock and sadness over the incident. One neighbor, whose daughter used to play with the boy, told KOLD, “His son was really cute. He was a really friendly kid. He was very polite. He was a lot friendlier than his dad.” She added that she had not seen the boy in around a month and had noticed seeing the family less frequently in recent months.
Another neighbor told the outlet that she thought the house had been abandoned.
This tragic incident has raised serious questions about the circumstances leading to the boy’s death and the living conditions in the home. As the investigation continues, authorities and the community are left grappling with the devastating loss of a young life.
#JosephGregoryAntonsen #ChildAbuse #NegligentHomicide #WelfareCheck #ArizonaCrime #DecomposingBody #ParentingNeglect
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