Louisiana Man Arrested After Dismembered, Headless Body Found In His Freezer

A Louisiana man was arrested Wednesday after deputies found a dismembered and headless body in his freezer.

Benjamin Beale, 34, is being held at the Orleans Parish Jail on a slew of charges, including obstruction of justice, reported WBRZ-TV.

According to New Orleans Police, officers arrived at Beale's home at 2327 Pauline St. Tuesday as part of an investigation into the disappearance of a woman, Julia Dardar, who was last seen in December, Nola.com reported.

The officers discovered a headless human torso in a freezer located inside a bus parked in the backyard of Beale's home, according to the outlet. Authorities could not immediately confirm the identity of the deceased person. They were awaiting an autopsy to determine how the person was killed.

Police sources told WDSU-TV the body found in the freezer was savagely dismembered, with its head chopped off and many body parts wrapped in plastic. Officers added that Beale was not assisting them in the investigation.

Police arrived at Beale's residence based on a missing person report filed by Julia's ex-husband, Micah Dardar. He told the authorities Julia had moved in with Beale.

During their search on Beale's property, deputies found what they called a clandestine meth lab, along with items such as kerosene, glass dishes with white powder, propane, a Coleman grill and acetone inside a freezer, according to WDSU-TV. Officers said they also found goggles, a face shield and garbage bags near the freezer.

Beale's bail has been set at $450,000. Charges against him include creating/operating a hidden drug lab, illegal carrying of weapons, distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. He has not been charged with murder in the case.

According to reports, Julia had set up a GoFundMe page, titled -- "Help Julia get home to New Orleans" -- on Oct. 3, 2021. The page stated that about a month and a half ago, she helped a friend repair a bus that he had inherited. However, she was now "stuck on the West Coast with no funds to get home."

"I am 1,800 miles from home," she wrote. "I need fuel, food, and shelter. Although I have been sleeping in my car and hitting up food banks in order to get by, my back is screwed up from failed epidurals so it's not the most comfortable place to sleep."

Julia was able to reach the funding goal in just 6 days after a friend sent her a generous donation. "I will be shutting down my GoFundMe, and calling it a success, now that I believe I have what I need to get home and start rearranging my life to live alone and free," she announced at the time.

She was reported missing to the New Orleans police on Dec. 23, 2021, according to the authorities.