A Wisconsin couple suddenly disappeared — what was their son hiding? | Forensic Files

when Chandler halderson reported his parents missing on July 7 2021 Barton Krista halderson had not been seen for
nearly a week detective Sabrina Sims and Brian shonk led the team to find the missing couple
their first stop the couple's home so when you first got there who was home it was just Chandler the 23 year old told
detectives an unknown couple had picked up his parents and drove them to the family cabin for the July 4th weekend
but the haldersons never mentioned to co-workers nor their oldest son Mitchell that they would be going to the cabin
the cabin was a remote rustic Lakeside Retreat built in the 1940s by their grandparents says Krista's cousin Barbie
why would they not call why wouldn't there be a text or something you know your mind just starts to go down really
murky Trails because you're trying to figure out what's going on the day after Chandler reported his mom and dad
missing his brother Mitchell and his fiance decided to drive three hours to the cabin to see if they could find any
sign of his parents langlade County deputies met them there hi there are you guys um
okay you are affiliated with them yes okay [Music] it was clear no one had been to the
cabin for a long time Bart and Krista were nowhere to be found and then police got a tip Chandler had been seen on a
farm about 20 miles away while his parents were missing deputies began searching the area and a gruesome
Discovery was quickly made remains of an adult male had been found and police turned their full attention to Chandler
listen to me this is the only chance you're gonna have okay what we listen listen I can't tell
you what we know but we know you didn't tell us the truth you need to tell the truth while they work to confirm the
identity of their remains as well as the whereabouts of Christa detectives arrested Chandler and charged him with
lying to them the arrest was based on him providing false information in regards to a
missing person two days later authorities identified the remains as Bart halderson he had been shot twice in
the back detectives would later find Krista's remains in a remote area near the Wisconsin River where Chandler liked
to swim Chandler was arrested and charged with his parents murder dismemberment and
lying to police why would Chandler kill his mother and father investigators say it's because he was
afraid his parents would learn he had been lying to them you know he just lied to everybody for
months he'd been telling everyone including his childhood friend Alex gravatt that he was enrolled at Madison
College during the 2021 spring semester did you have any idea he had flunked out
he didn't tell you it was surprising he told people about his I.T degree his promising internship at an insurance
company and said he was excited about a new job he landed at SpaceX but it seems his parents became
suspicious when his parents questioned him about his transcripts investigators found that
Chandler halderson crafted a chain of emails that seemed to come from the college Chandler creates people that
work for Madison College and communicates via email with them you know Barts on some of those as well
talking to who he believes as employees of the school and do any of those people
actually exist no in June 2021 Bart hulderson called Madison College pretending to be
Chandler and got an answer he wasn't expecting but I don't see that you were admitted
in any so you said they were you know the I.T degrees in there right no those are just classes you might have
just the password [Music] Bart learned that not only had his son been lying about that I.T degree but
there was no internship with an insurance company either and remember that big job with SpaceX
another lie the delusional reality that according to detectives Bart was planning to meet at the college with his
son on Thursday July 1st around 2PM Bart who was working from home sent his son this text
I'm ready whenever you are that text was believed to be the last message Bart sent before he was murdered

Chandler Halderson was excited about a new job offer he said he had with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. When his parents started asking questions about college — they disappeared.

Editor's note: In April 2023, two of Chandler Halderson's convictions related to hiding his parents' remains were vacated on procedural grounds. Halderson continues to serve a life sentence with no possibility of parole for the murder and dismemberment of his parents.

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Brief Summary

Chandler Halderson murdered his parents after they uncovered his lies about education and employment.

Key points

Chandler Reports Parents Missing. Chandler Halderson reports his parents missing, claiming they were picked up by an unknown couple.
Gruesome Discovery. Police find remains of an adult male, leading to Chandler's arrest.
Chandler's Lies Unraveled. Investigators uncover Chandler's deception about his education and job.
Last Message Before Murder. Bart's last text to Chandler is revealed, believed to be sent before his death.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

Why would they not call?

Krista's cousin Barbie questions the lack of communication.

0:45WatchNov 6, 2022

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