A man who had his brother arrested for the alleged murder of his uncle after finding “human bones” in his fire pit has told the gruesome story.
Jason Buchanan, 49, of Mooresville, North Carolina, made the shocking discovery after his uncle Charlie Knight’s neighbors called him worried for his safety.
They said there had been a fire burning in his yard for “three days” and that it smelled like a “dead animal.”
Concerned, Jason called the police while on his way to his uncle’s house, but his uncle claimed that he had been ignored by the authorities and that he had to search the well himself.
He did so, but what he discovered will haunt him for a long time.
Jason Buchanan (pictured), 49, of North Carolina, had his own brother arrested for the alleged murder of their uncle after he found “human bones” in his fire pit
“One day I got a call from my uncle’s neighbor. He said there had been a fire for three days and he could smell the odor of a dead animal,” he explains.
‘I went to my uncle’s yard to check on the fire. There was a big fire pit behind it. I called the police and they let me go.
‘I went to the fire place and searched the place myself and I found the bones of my uncle. I found human remains in the place.
It was horrible. I thought [that] ‘My uncle was dead and no one listened to me.’
Jason said he last saw his uncle Charlie, a 72-year-old painter, on July 4. The last time he saw him was July 10.
Jason immediately began to suspect that his younger brother, Stephan Eric Buchanan, 39, had done something to Charlie.
He claimed that Stephan had been driving around in Charlie’s car for the past few weeks and even selling some of his belongings at flea markets.
‘I last saw my uncle on July 4th and then [after that date] “My brother drove up in my uncle’s car,” Jason continued.
He made the shocking discovery after his uncle Charlie Knight’s neighbors called him worried for his safety. The bones he found have been seen
Jason called the police when he went to his uncle’s house, but he claimed he was “turned away” by authorities and had to search the well himself
Jason’s brother Stephan Eric Buchanan, 39, was subsequently arrested on seven criminal charges and four charges related to probation violations
Jason said he last saw his uncle Charlie (seen), a 72-year-old painter, on July 4, and that his brother then started driving his car
“I asked Stephan where our uncle was and he told me he was in Louisiana. He had been going to garage sales and selling my uncle’s stuff.”
On August 7, Cleveland police arrested Stephan on seven criminal charges and four probation violation charges, including murder, possession of a weapon by a felon, theft by a felon, obtaining property by false pretenses and probation violation.
He has since been extradited to the Rowan County Detention Center, where he will await trial.
Jason shared, “I asked Stephan where our uncle was and he told me he was in Louisiana. He had been going to garage sales and selling my uncle’s stuff.” His uncle’s house is shown
In a statement, Cleveland Police Chief Jon Jessop said: “We want to assure the community that the situation is under control and there is no ongoing threat to public safety.
‘Our officers responded quickly and took the necessary measures to secure the area.
“We are currently actively investigating the incident to establish the facts and ensure appropriate action is taken.”
Police would not confirm the name of the deceased person involved in the charges.
Jason said Stephan and his uncle had a “great relationship” and that he would never forgive his brother.
He added: ‘Our uncle raised us – my parents weren’t there. He taught me how to ride a bike and play basketball.
“My brother and I had a good relationship and my uncle loved him. It was all too hard to process – I’m grieving the death of two people.”
Stephan will appear before a Grand Jury on September 3.