Chandler Halderson, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering both of his parents. In July 2021 he reported them missing as well.
Chandler Halderson’s exact birthdate and personal information are not readily available in the public domain.
He gained notoriety due to his involvement in a criminal case related to the disappearance and death of his parents, Bart and Krista Halderson, in Wisconsin in 2021.
His early life and family background may have played a role in the circumstances surrounding this tragic case, which attracted significant media attention and legal scrutiny.
Investigation was assisted by data obtained from his girlfriend’s Snapchat. She revealed that he was lying to his father about attending Madison College and receiving an offer from Elon Musk’s SpaceX company.
Chandler Halderson has been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for killing and dismembering both of his parents. When hearing of his conviction from the judge, Chandler smiles wistfully as his sentence was read aloud.
He had been deceiving his parents into thinking he was still attending college despite having dropped out, while also lying that he worked at SpaceX and participated in the police department’s dive team.
Dulce Mellender, his girlfriend’s mother, also gave a victim impact statement in which she stated her love for him yet displeasure if parole were to be granted to him.
Prosecutors presented to a jury footage from inside Halderson home where forensic experts discovered more than 200 bone fragments near the fireplace, as well as hydrogen peroxide and ice remnants that appeared as though someone was trying to clean up after themselves. While the prosecution argued that evidence was overwhelming, defense counsel disputed its sufficiency while questioning how state could prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Chandler Halderson stands accused of murdering and dismembering both of his parents, Bart and Krista Halderson. Additionally, he stands charged with lying to police; both charges he has denied. Currently awaiting trial.
Chandler told police during his interview with them that both of his parents had gone to their family cabin for Fourth of July weekend and never came back home, although he claimed he had accompanied them and helped pack tools for the trip.
Detectives were dubious of Chandler’s account and began an intensive search for them. A farm owner provided information that Chandler was seen walking from her woodline just days prior to them disappearing from their property.
Cathryn “Cat” Mellender allowed investigators to access her phone, where Snapchat revealed that Chandler was seen in a remote area near Wisconsin River around the same time his parents went missing.
Chandler Halderson was an ambitious young man with much to gain in life. A college student working towards his IT degree, Chandler also worked part-time online with American Family Insurance as an extra income stream. Additionally, he lived with both of his parents – Bart and Krista Halderson of Windsor Wisconsin.
One July, Chandler reported his parents missing after they failed to return from a holiday at their family cabin during Fourth of July weekend. Investigators would later discover that both were murdered.
Chandler Halderson was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, providing false information and mutilating a corpse, for which he was found guilty and given life imprisonment. As evidence against him were fake emails created that looked like they came from Madison College;
these eventually led to his girlfriend confessing she tracked him on Snapchat in the days prior to their disappearance – information which later helped investigators locate both sets of remains; his father’s remains were later located near the Wisconsin River while Krista Halderson’s remains were discovered nearby as well.
Chandler Halderson stands trial for murdering his parents Bart and Krista Halderson. He has been accused of killing, dismembering, and hiding their remains; additionally providing false information to investigators.
Cathryn “Cat” Mellender, Chandler’s girlfriend, would often visit his family home in Windsor, Wisconsin and describe Bart and Krista as loving people willing to lend a helping hand and share cooking tips. Additionally, Cat even worked part-time for an insurance company online to earn extra income.
Dulce Mellender testified about how she and Cat got along well with the Haldersons. She noted that they often went on picnics together, and was shocked when Chandler claimed they brought alcohol beverages into the cabin – something Mellender believed was out of character for them to do.
| Conviction | Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole |
|---|---|
| Murder Charges | Accused of murdering and dismembering both parents |
| Deception | Lied about college attendance and working at SpaceX |
| Girlfriend’s Role | Snapchat data from his girlfriend helped investigators |
| Victim’s Family | Dulce Mellender, girlfriend’s mother, expressed displeasure with parole possibility |
The article does not provide information about Chandler Halderson’s dating history or past relationships.
Chandler Halderson’s girlfriend is Cathryn “Cat” Mellender. While their relationship is not extensively discussed in the article, Cat played a significant role by allowing investigators access to her phone, which revealed Chandler’s location through Snapchat data.
Chandler Halderson, convicted of murdering and dismembering his parents and deceiving them about his college attendance and employment, was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. His girlfriend’s cooperation with investigators, revealed through Snapchat data, played a crucial role in the case. The victim’s family, represented by Dulce Mellender, expressed their displeasure at the possibility of parole for Halderson.