A man is under arrest after a welfare check at an Ash Fork home after a welfare check led to the discovery of a human skull.
An Ash Fork post office employee informed Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputies that 67-year-old John McCabe had not picked up his mail in more than a year.
Deputies then conducted a welfare check at his home and found 76-year-old Terry Welfenberg living on the property. Welfenberg allegedly told them McCabe left about two years ago and he had broken into his home, stolen a few guns and was now living there.
Deputies found a burned skull fragment in a fire pit and several other human bones during a search of the property, as well as McCabe’s medical ID bracelet and his wallet.
Welfenberg was arrested and charged on suspicion of burglary and theft of firearms. A YCSO spokesperson said on Friday that additional charges, including homicide, are still pending.