The girlfriend and children of a US man have been charged with his murder after his remains were found inside a freezer.
David Reuben Green Jr's de facto partner Wendy Edmond Green and his teenage children of are accused of feeding parts of his body to their pit-bull, as well as bringing friends to their home in North Carolina to show off "their father's mutilated and quartered body", the News & Observer reports.
Ms Green, who took on her wealthy partner's surname despite them never marrying, also posed as his wife to withdraw money from his bank accounts, police say.
The 41-year-old told family that her boyfriend was overseas — but after a long absence, his extended family began to suspect something was amiss and hired a private investigator to track him down.
Mr Green was formally reported missing on September 1. His decapitated body was found stuffed inside the freezer earlier this month.
It is believed the 52-year-old died of blunt force trauma as early as January.
"A piece of your heart just breaks," cousin Shawn Thornbill was quoted as saying.
"My aunt (Mr Green's mother) spent last week taking down the children's pictures."
David Reuben Green III, 15, and Alexis Green, 17, have both been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy.
The pair will be tried as adults if a judge finds probable cause for the charges.
Ms Green is facing the same charges.
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