Chandler Halderson Girlfriend: Her Snapchat Helps Police Unravel A Mysterious Double Murder

By James Mercado On Apr 7, 2023

Detectives Sabrina Sims and Brian Shunk from the Dane County Sheriff’s Office were tasked with looking into the disappearance of

Bart and Krista Halderson are a couple from Windsor, Wisconsin. They were reported missing by their son Chandler Halderson, 23, who said they had gone to the family cabin for the Fourth of July weekend but never returned.

Two sons, Mitchell, 24, who worked in technology, and Chandler, 23, who was enrolled in college and living at home while pursuing an IT degree, were the pride of their parents, Bart and Krista Halderson.

Chandler was thrilled with his lucrative work with SpaceX, owned by one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, Elon Musk, and had lofty aspirations.

The Haldersons’ lives appeared swimmingly, so there was genuine alarm when the couple suddenly vanished. Erin Moriarty, a correspondent for “48 Hours,” details how the case was solved by the police in “The Snapchat Clue.”

After speaking with friends, relatives, and neighbors, the police eventually got a break. Cathryn “Cat” Mellender, Chandler’s girlfriend, permitted detectives to download information from her phone.

Sims would follow Chandler on Snapchat after learning he had previously cheated on Mellender. Users of the well-known software can track the whereabouts of their pals in real time.

On July 3, early morning, Mellender opened the app, saw Chandler in a secluded area close to the Wisconsin River, and captured a screenshot of it.

Chandler was in that isolated region when his parents went missing because of the app. Later, when the detectives decided to explore that area, they surprised themselves by finding human remains. The remains belonged to Krista Halderson, Chandler’s missing mother.

About 20 miles from the Halderson residence, Chandler’s father Bart Halderson’s remains were found at a farm. The farm owner admitted to the police that she was shocked to see Chandler on her land.

She told the authorities that she observed him leaving the farm’s wooded area. Bart’s remains were discovered by deputies who were searching the site. Bart Halderson had sustained at least two back wounds.

Bart and Krista Halderson’s son Chandler Halderson was accused of killing them. In addition, he was charged with mutilating them and lying to the authorities. His defense was not guilty.

What makes Chandler kill his parents, though?

His case went to trial in January 2022. Chandler killed his parents, and the prosecution informed the jurors once they learned he had lied to them.

According to evidence from the prosecution, Chandler had dropped out of college without his parent’s knowledge. And your position at SpaceX? It was fabricated. According to the trial, Chandler’s father had arranged a rendezvous for them at the college he claimed to attend on the day Chandler killed his parents.

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Footage from a nearby neighbor’s security camera that was recorded on the day they think Bart and Krista were slain was also shown to the jury by the prosecution.

The Halderson house had a flickering light coming from a window. Authorities claim that the Haldersons’ fireplace was the source of the flashing light. A forensic expert later testified that more than 200 pieces of human bone were found in the fireplace of the Haldersons.

The defense team for Chandler Halderson claimed that the prosecution lacked sufficient proof to support their claims. They contend that nobody knows what happened inside the Halderson residence or how Bart and Krista perished. Chandler stayed silent during the trial.

A jury convicted Chandler Halderson guilty of all charges after two hours of deliberations. Before sentencing, Chandler informed the judge that he had a comment to make and enquired whether any attorneys would take on his appeal.

Chandler was given a life sentence without the chance of release. He has a new attorney, but he hasn’t appealed yet.