CENTRE COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — Authorities in Centre County say a State College man is being charged with abuse of a corpse after he reportedly put the body of his deceased roommate inside a trash can and left it outside of an abandoned property in College Township.
Police say Christopher Hampton, 50, allegedly admitted to hiding the victim's body in a trash can after the man reportedly overdosed while the two were on a trip out of state.
According to the affidavit, police were dispatched to a residence along the 300 block of Oakhurst Lane, on December 15, 2022, for reports of a body found in the trash.
Upon further investigation, police learned that the trash can had reportedly been stolen from a residence along the 1400 block of South Allen Street.
Police say the victim, whose body was also wrapped inside a rug, was identified and was reportedly associated with two addresses in State College.
Investigators say officers later spoke with the victim's roommate, identified as Hampton, who reportedly disclosed an incident that occurred while the two were traveling to Ohio a few days prior.
According to Hampton, police say they had stopped at a gas station near the Ohio border and that when he returned from inside the store, he found the victim in a "fallen" position.
Police say Hampton told officers that the victim had injuries to his face and foot but claimed that he was still alive and conscious, and was refusing to go to the hospital.
Authorities say Hampton provided "varying accounts" of when the victim was first deceased and allegedly admitted to bringing the victim's body back to State College, where he reportedly kept the victim "wrapped in a carpet for a few days."
Investigators say an autopsy determined that the victim died as a result of a "multi-drug overdose," which reportedly included fentanyl, methamphetamine and xylazine.
Upon further questioning, police say they discovered text messages between Hampton and a woman, in which he reportedly sent her a photo of the victim following the incident at the gas station.
"I think he died," Hampton reportedly stated in the message.
Police say the woman told officers that she instructed Hampton to take the victim to the hospital, but that he instead brought the body to her home and discussed "several ideas" about how to dispose of the victim's body.
Authorities say Hampton later admitted to stealing a neighbor's trash can, putting the victim's body inside and "wheeling" it to an abandoned residence along Oakhurst Lane.
According to online court records, Hampton was charged Monday with misdemeanor abuse of a corpse, theft and receiving stolen property.
He is currently jailed in the Centre County Prison on unrelated charges, officials added.
His bail for this case has been set at $10,000.
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