On February 8, 2021, Peter Joseph Gerold was killed in his home. Taray Herring, who had sometimes helped take care of Peter's various pets, cut off the dead man's hands and feet and deep-fried them to try to destroy Peter's DNA. Taray and some possible accomplices were arrested after the 70-year-old's torso was discovered inside a trash bag in the back of a rental truck. According to a witness, Taray tased Peter, tied him up, and choked him to death. But Taray has claimed that he found the victim already dead or dying and stayed with the body for over a day before deciding to cut it up, cook parts of it, dispose of the pieces, and burglarize Peter's home.