A man who had his own brother arrested for the alleged murder of his uncle after finding ‘human bones’ in his campfire has told the horrific story.
Jason Buchanan, 49, of Mooresville, North Carolina, made the shocking discovery after his uncle Charlie Knight’s neighbors called him because they were concerned for his safety.
They said a fire in their garden had been burning “for three days” straight and smelled like a “dead animal.”
Worried, Jason called police as he headed to his uncle’s house, but said authorities “ignored” him and told him to search the well himself.
So he did, but what he discovered will haunt him for a long time.
Jason Buchanan (seen), 49, of North Carolina, had his own brother arrested for the alleged murder of his uncle after he found “human bones” in his fire pit.
“One day I got a call from my uncle’s neighbor who told me there was a fire that had been going on for three days and that they could smell a dead animal,” he explained.
‘I went into my uncle’s garden to see what had happened. There was a big fire pit at the back. I called the police and they ignored me.
‘I went to the scene of the fire and searched the pit myself and found my uncle’s bones. I found human remains in the pit.
“It was horrible. I thought my uncle was dead and no one was listening to me.”
Jason said he last saw his uncle Charlie, a 72-year-old painter, on July 4; his last known sighting was July 10.
Immediately, Jason began to suspect that his younger brother, Stephan Eric Buchanan, 39, had done something to Charlie.
She claimed that Stephan had been driving Charlie’s car for the past few weeks and had even sold some of his things at garage sales.
“The last time I saw my uncle was on the 4th of July and then (after that date) my brother started showing up in my uncle’s car,” Jason continued.
He made the shocking discovery after his uncle Charlie Knight’s neighbors called him because they were concerned for his safety. The bones he found look
Jason called police on his way to his uncle’s house, but said authorities ignored him and told him to search the well himself.
Jason’s brother, Stephan Eric Buchanan, 39, was arrested on seven criminal charges and four counts related to probation violations.
Jason said he last saw his uncle Charlie, a 72-year-old painter, on July 4, and that his brother started driving his car afterward.
“I asked Stephan where our uncle was and he said he was in Louisiana. He had been going to flea markets and selling my uncle’s stuff.”
On August 7, the Cleveland Police Department arrested Stephan on seven felony charges and four counts related to probation violations, including murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, larceny by a felon, obtaining property by false pretenses and probation violation.
He has now been extradited to the Rowan County Detention Center, where he will await trial.
Jason shared, ‘I asked Stephan where our uncle was and he said he was in Louisiana. He had been going to garage sales and selling my uncle’s stuff.’ His uncle’s house is seen
In a statement, Cleveland Police Chief Jon Jessop said: ‘We want to reassure the community that the situation is under control and there is no ongoing threat to public safety.
‘Our officers responded quickly and took the necessary steps to secure the area.
“We are actively investigating the incident to determine the facts and ensure appropriate action is taken.”
Police have not confirmed the name of the deceased person involved in the charges.
Jason said Stephan and his uncle had a “good relationship” and that he would never forgive his brother.
He added: “Our uncle raised us, my parents weren’t around. He taught me how to ride a bike and play basketball.”
“My brother and I had a good relationship and my uncle loved him very much. It’s been very difficult to come to terms with all this. I’m mourning the death of two people.”
Stephan is scheduled to appear before a Grand Jury on September 3.
