

“But what evidence do you have of murder?” she said. “That’s never going to be explained to you, how lying turns into murder.” She also said it was even possible that Halderson will be convicted of some of the lesser charges he faces. “You’re also gonna not know how Bart and Krista would’ve reacted to these lies,” she said, referring to the state’s case. Public Defender Catherine Dorl seemed to confirm that Halderson lied about his jobs and schooling, but suggested the deception was not a motive for murder. The defense says he didn’t do it, and described him in their opening statement as “a normal kid” who enjoyed video games, playing with his dogs, and spending time with his girlfriend. Halderson pleaded not guilty to all charges. Halderson is now on trial in Dane County for his parents’ murders, as well as charges of mutilating a corpse, hiding a corpse, and providing false information about a missing person.

He then dismembered their bodies, scattered their remains around Southern Wisconsin, and reported them missing almost a week later. Then, when Bart discovered the truth about his son’s fake life, prosecutors say Halderson shot him to death, and killed his mother when she arrived home a few hours later. According to prosecutors, Halderson was hanging out in his room playing video games all day, waking up early for meetings that didn’t exist so that his accountant father - who was also working remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic - would not suspect the ruse. The problem, authorities say, is none of it was true. He told her he’d already rented an apartment and bought a car.

His life appeared poised to head in a more promising direction, especially after Halderson announced in June 2021 that he’d been hired by Elon Musk’s SpaceX and would be moving to Florida later that month. His father, Bart Halderson, and his mother, Krista Halderson, believed he was working remotely for a Wisconsin insurance company while finishing up his community college coursework from his room, according to authorities. Like many Americans his age, 23-year-old Chandler Halderson spent the past year or so living at home with his parents.
