House of Horrors: Decomposing Body of 9-Year-Old Arizona Boy Dead for Days Found on Couch
Joseph Antonsen was arrested after police say his son was found deceased on a couch inside their home.
July 18 2024, Published 1:10 p.m. ET
Law enforcement officials in Arizona say a man has been arrested after his son’s decomposing body was found on a couch inside their trash and insect-filled home, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to the residence in Tucson for a rescue follow-up around 5:15 p.m. on July 14, and found the 9-year-old boy dead inside, Front Page Detectives reported.
New evidence was obtained in 2022, which helped solve the 1980 cold case, officials said.
Deputies said it was clear he'd been “deceased on a couch inside of the residence for an extended period of time.”
Detectives at the scene spoke with the child’s father, identified as 38-year-old Joseph Antonsen.
Officers said the residence was 'unsanitary' and they found human and animal feces on the floor.
Antonsen reportedly told police his son got sick on July 12, and he planned on taking him to the doctor, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by KOLD.
The father saw the boy was “shuddering and going limp,” and the boy soon stopped breathing, officials reportedly said.
Police said Baula and his vehicle were seen in surveillance footage both times he threw the urine.
Antonsen told investigators he “should had [sic] called somebody” after his son died, but he left the house and didn’t come back until July 14, the affidavit states.
Police noted the house, which was described as being in “deplorable condition,” contained piles of trash around the couch as well as “lots of empty beer cans, large piles of soiled diapers, rotten foods, large amounts of 1-gallon bottles full of what appears to be urine, lots of insect activity,” including spiders.
Valadez was arrested and charged with the murder of Dixon, authorities said.
Authorities said they spotted “spiderwebs everywhere throughout all the walls of the home.” They also noted the house did not have running water or a working toilet.
The child reportedly died in a seated position on the couch, and officials said he appeared to be in a state of decomposition.
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Antonsen was arrested and charged with child abuse and negligent homicide.
He was booked into the Pima County ail and was being held on a $500,000 bond.
