In a chilling incident in Indiana, law enforcement officers discovered a decapitated body in a residence, with the head later found at a separate location. The gruesome discovery was made on a Friday morning after a welfare check was requested by the victim’s ex-wife. The victim, identified as 73-year-old Erich V. Winnecke Sr., was found in his Jeffersonville home, located near the Kentucky border.
The welfare check was prompted by the victim’s ex-wife, who was worried about his safety due to ongoing issues between him and their son, 33-year-old Bryce William Winnecke. The severity of the situation was revealed in a 911 call, where the caller reported the decapitation and the missing head.
Upon arrival, officers were met with a horrifying scene. “It was a very apparent homicide,” stated Jeffersonville police Detective Sam Moss. The victim was found in his bedroom, showing signs of defensive wounds and multiple stab wounds to the chest. Blood spatter was found on the bedroom walls, and a large knife, believed to be the murder weapon, was also recovered.
As the investigation unfolded, Bryce Winnecke reportedly confessed to the crime during a phone call with his mother, who was at the victim’s house. He allegedly stated, “I killed him. I went over to dad’s because he is the evilest person that ever lived, I cut his head off.”
Upon learning of his location at his mother’s house, officers arrived to find Bryce Winnecke carrying a plastic bag of a size consistent with a human head. He also held a knife and retreated into the house upon seeing the police, refusing to come out.
The situation escalated, leading to the involvement of a SWAT team. After deploying flash-bang devices, officers were able to coax Bryce Winnecke out of the house after a four-hour standoff. A subsequent search of the house led to the discovery of the victim’s head in the son’s bedroom.
The incident has left the community in shock, with neighbors expressing disbelief at the crime occurring in what they considered a safe neighborhood. Bryce Winnecke is currently being held at the Clark County Jail, facing charges of murder and abuse of a corpse.