Man arrested in Tempe, suspected of concealing human remains in freezer

A 51-year-old man has been arrested and charged with concealing a body in a freezer for more than four years, Tempe police said.

Joseph Hill Jr. was arrested after skeletal remains of a human were found inside a freezer in his backyard, according to a release from the Tempe Police Department.

Detectives received a tip on Oct. 10, and officers contacted Hill that day, but he refused to allow them to look inside the freezer. Hill noted his father had passed away four years ago, the release stated.

Detectives conducted extensive research and developed probable cause for a search warrant, police said, and during the execution of the search warrant, they found the skeletal remains of a human body.

At this time, the identity of the remains cannot be confirmed, police said. The release indicated the body inside the freezer may have been Hill's father.

Besides concealing the body, Hill has been charged with failure to report death, and additional charges may be pending.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Tempe Police Department at 480-350-8311. Callers may remain anonymous.

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