INDIANAPOLIS — Police are continuing to search the White River in Indiana for a trash can that may contain the body of missing HVAC technician Brandon Perry.
Court documents obtained by NewsNation affiliate WXIN paint a gruesome end for Perry as police investigate his own teenage son, David Perry, who investigators believe killed his father and dumped his body in the river inside a Republic trash can.
For the past week, law enforcement agencies have been searching the White River near Martinsville for signs of the trash can. At this time, Brandon Perry’s body has yet to be found.
On Wednesday, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office charged 17-year-old David Perry with murder. David was arrested by Indy metro police detectives on June 1.
According to court documents, officers were dispatched to Brandon Perry’s home on Vandergriff Road after he was reported missing on May 29. Brandon, 35, was reportedly last seen three days earlier, on May 26.
Investigators later learned that Brandon’s son, David, was the last person to see his father. He didn’t report his father missing.
Brandon wouldn’t be reported missing until his sister contacted police. After heading to Brandon’s home, she ended up finding a “large amount of blood” on the bottom of Brandon’s mattress.
Investigators later found signs of blood on the basement stairs. Cadaver dogs would end up indicating on a makeshift burn pile in the side yard of the residence. Searching the burn pile, police found Brandon Perry’s license along with damaged credit cards and a business card.
Police noted that Brandon’s son, David, had lived at the home for three full days without contacting anyone about Brandon’s disappearance.
On May 27, before Brandon Perry was even reported missing, his work truck and trailer were found on Thompson Road near Five Points at the Ashland neighborhood. At the time, police were unable to reach Brandon Perry when they tried to contact him about the discovery.
Investigators reviewed footage from a pub located near where the truck was found. In the footage, a “skinny male” who reportedly resembles David Perry “in both stature and [gait]” is seen walking away from the truck.
Clothes worn by the figure in the footage also reportedly were similar to clothes David wore or owned, police said.
Investigators would go on to find that a handgun, bought by Brandon and gifted to David for a birthday present, was missing. Also missing was a blue Republic trash can.
A large amount of trash was found on the ground where the trash can normally is kept, according to court docs.
Further investigation would bring detectives to the conclusion that David not only murdered his father, but put his father’s body in a trash can and dumped him in the White River.
Police learned that on May 26, the day Brandon reportedly went missing, David went to Walmart and purchased a red dolly. He also bought a dust buster, small fan, seat covers, a candle, a belt and a small gun safe.
The gun safe was reportedly found in David’s car and housed a handgun.
State police dive teams were enlisted to help search for the body of Brandon Perry in the area of New Harmony Road and I-69 south. Police found wheel marks running down to the river from the interstate and boot prints. Wheel marks measured near the river reportedly match the same distance as a Republic trash can, court documents reveal.
Swabs done by investigators also revealed the presence of blood on Brandon Perry’s trailer and in the bed of the pickup.
According to court documents, Brandon’s sister told police that David told her that “his dad is in the White River and that he was in a trash can.”
David supposedly told his aunt that he dumped the trash can “about an hour south” and that the can’s lid “was shut and it wasn’t going to open.”
Some messages uncovered by police include David telling someone on May 18 that he was going to be leaving at the end of his month with his car after recounting an argument with his father.
A message sent by David on May 26, the last day Brandon Perry was reportedly seen alive, said, “It popped off.”
When the person responded, “What?”
David wrote back, “I’ll talk to you about it in person, can’t say over text.”
Police spoke to the person David was speaking to. That individual reportedly told police that David said he and his father got into an altercation and David said he couldn’t go back to the house but wouldn’t provide further details on why.
The search for Brandon Perry’s body continues.
A booking photo of David Perry was not provided.