The Murders of Bart and Krista Halderson: The Lies That Unraveled
On July 2, 2021, Krista Halderson did not show up for work. That was unlike her, and her close friend Daniel Croninger grew concerned when calls and messages went unanswered. He went to the Halderson home in Windsor, Wisconsin, where he saw both Bart Halderson’s and Krista’s vehicles still parked in the garage.
Their younger son, Chandler Halderson, said his parents had left that morning for their family cabin in northern Wisconsin. According to Chandler, friends had driven them there after a storm damaged the property. But he could not identify the friends, and no one close to Bart and Krista knew anything about the trip.
The Cabin Story Falls Apart
Days passed without contact from Bart or Krista. Krista missed work again, missed a doctor’s appointment, and did not check in with either of her sons. When Chandler finally reported his parents missing, investigators began checking every detail he had provided.
The cabin showed no signs of a recent visit. Bart and Krista’s cars remained at home. A text Chandler said he received from Krista did not place her near the cabin, and the people who were supposedly with the couple could not be found. The more investigators learned, the more the cabin story fell apart.
Years of Lies
The missing persons investigation also brought attention to Chandler’s life before his parents disappeared. He had told Bart and Krista that he was progressing through a technology program, working remotely for American Family Insurance, and preparing for a job with SpaceX in Florida. Investigators later found that none of those plans were real.
Bart had started asking questions about Chandler’s college records and work. He contacted Madison College directly and scheduled a meeting for July 1, 2021. That meeting never happened.
Evidence and a Verdict
Investigators found Bart’s remains at a property in Cottage Grove after witnesses reported seeing Chandler there. A Snapchat location saved by Chandler’s girlfriend, Cathryn “Cat” Mellender, led them to another location near the Wisconsin River, where Krista’s remains were found. Evidence from the family home, phone records, surveillance footage, and Chandler’s own statements became central to the case.
In January 2022, a jury convicted Chandler of the murders of Bart and Krista, along with mutilating their remains and providing false information during the missing persons investigation. He received two life sentences without eligibility for release. In 2025, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals affirmed the remaining convictions, and in June 2026, the Wisconsin Supreme Court declined to review the case.
Sources:
Chandler Halderson case: Did a Wisconsin man's lies lead to the murders of his parents?
Eagle Scout convicted of killing, dismembering parents sentenced | Court TV
Judge says man who killed parents can’t skip sentencing | Court TV
Eagle Scout convicted of killing, dismembering parents sentenced | Court TV
Wisconsin man charged in parents' killing and dismemberment - Wausau Pilot & Review
https://halifax.citynews.ca/2021/07/30/dna-match-used-to-id-remains-of-missing-wisconsin-woman/
Chandler Halderson formally charged in mother’s death | Crime and Courts | wxow.com
'I felt like I needed to do something:' Brother of Chandler Halderson testifies
Defense rests without calling any witnesses in Chandler Halderson murder trial | News | wkow.com
WI v. Chandler Halderson Trial Day 1 - Prosecution Opening Statement by William Brown
Wisconsin Supreme Court denies review of Chandler Halderson's conviction in killing of his parents
