SWAT Team Finds Head, Two Hands After Standoff
SWAT team members found a human head and hands inside the home of Chad Moretz after a four-hour standoff. They believe the body parts belong to a man missing since New Year's, Charlie Ray.
"Chad's in here, he's got a rifle, he's going to kill y'all," his brother-in-law, Kevin Lambert, told police as he opened the door, according to The Washington Post. Police went to Moretz's home in order to gather information about the missing Ray, whose family was concerned and believed Moretz, a friend, may know something.
After four hours, Moretz sent his wife running onto the front lawn and then walked out onto his front porch holding an assault rifle. As he raised the weapon, a SWAT team sniper had a clear shot and took it, killing Moretz instantly.
Once inside the home, police found the body of Charlie Ray. An autopsy showed he had been stabbed more than 40 times; his head and hands were found in a hole in the wall. The rest of Ray's body was found wrapped in bags in a nearby storage locker. Police believe that Moretz alone is responsible for the murder.
Moretz had a history of dangerous behavior. He previously stabbed a dog that had bitten him, and just a few months ago allegedly threatened a neighbor who refused to give him a ride home. Moretz was arrested on Dec. 22 for making terrorist threats but was released on bond the same day.
"You could look at him and tell something was wrong, just the look he had. He looked like he was dazed all the time," neighbor Ross Maruca told the Associated Press.
Right now Moretz's wife, Kimberly, and his brother-in-law are being held on charges of helping conceal Ray's body from police. They have not been charged with murder and have refused to speak to the press about the murder.
"I don't believe there is a motive. It wasn't a drug deal gone bad or a love triangle. Chad was just crazy," investigator David Ehsanipoor told the AP.
