Boy found dead sitting upright on couch in house filled with spiders, trash, and no running water

TUCSON, Ariz. (TCN) -- Deputies arrested a 38-year-old father after his son’s decomposing body was found on a couch inside their home, which was filled with trash and insects.

According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, on Sunday, July 14, at around 5:15 p.m., deputies responded to a home on the 6000 block of North Pelto Path for a rescue follow-up and found a 9-year-old boy dead inside. The sheriff’s department said it was clear he had been "deceased on a couch inside of the residence for an extended period of time."

Homicide Unit detectives arrived at the scene and spoke with the child’s father, Joseph Antonsen.

The probable cause affidavit says Antonsen told police his son got sick on July 12, and he planned to take him to the doctor. Antonsen reportedly saw the boy was "shuddering and going limp," and he soon stopped breathing. According to the affidavit, Antonsen told investigators he "should had [sic] called somebody" after his son died, but he left the house and did not come back until July 14.

Antonsen’s house reportedly had 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," and spiders, including black widows and brown recluses. Deputies noticed "spiderwebs everywhere throughout all the walls of the home." Antonsen’s house did not have running water or working toilets.

The boy died in a seated position on the couch, and he appeared to be in a state of decomposition.

The affidavit described Antonsen’s home as being in "deplorable condition."

Antonsen was arrested and charged with child abuse and negligent homicide. Pima County Jail records show his bond was set at $500,000.

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