Police Release Details Of Syracuse Murder

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By TIFFANY SHAW, Times-Union Staff Writer-

A Syracuse man allegedly killed his father because he did not want to travel to Florida with him.

Tracy Dietzen, 35, is accused of murdering his father, James A. Dietzen, 75, on Saturday. According to police, Dietzen and his father argued over his father's trip to Florida. James apparently wanted Tracy to go with him, and Tracy did not want to go. An argument ensued, and Tracy shot his father several times.

Dietzen is being held in Kosciusko County Jail without bond. He was to be arraigned at 1:15 p.m. today in Kosciusko County Circuit Court before Judge Rex Reed. The judge will read to Dietzen the charge of murder against him and enter the not-guilty plea required by state law. Dietzen will have 20 days to change the plea if he desires.

James' body was found buried in a crawl space under the family home on Grand Boulevard, Lake Wawasee, Tuesday night. According to sheriff's reports, Tracy admitted to shooting his father several times in the dining room of the home Saturday morning. He then admitted to burying the body under 14 inches of dirt.

Police became involved in the investigation when Tracy reported his father missing on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, police had found James' abandoned car near North Webster. The car was packed with suitcases full of clothing, apparently for James' trip to Florida. When police began questioning Tracy, he allegedly admitted killing his father.

Tracy apparently used hydrogen peroxide to clean bloodstains off the dining room floor carpet and then covered the washed-out stains with throw rugs before police visited the home.

An autopsy was conducted Wednesday, and preliminary reports show Dietzen was shot at least three times in the chest and head.

Police investigators do not know if the murder was planned, but said Tracy had purchased the gun recently. Tracy had no prior record with the police.

Tracy and James lived alone in the home. James was the owner of a bakery in Anderson that he sold when he retired in the 1970s.

Police said there were no witnesses who heard shots since most of the neighbors are in Florida. [[In-content Ad]]

A Syracuse man allegedly killed his father because he did not want to travel to Florida with him.

Tracy Dietzen, 35, is accused of murdering his father, James A. Dietzen, 75, on Saturday. According to police, Dietzen and his father argued over his father's trip to Florida. James apparently wanted Tracy to go with him, and Tracy did not want to go. An argument ensued, and Tracy shot his father several times.

Dietzen is being held in Kosciusko County Jail without bond. He was to be arraigned at 1:15 p.m. today in Kosciusko County Circuit Court before Judge Rex Reed. The judge will read to Dietzen the charge of murder against him and enter the not-guilty plea required by state law. Dietzen will have 20 days to change the plea if he desires.

James' body was found buried in a crawl space under the family home on Grand Boulevard, Lake Wawasee, Tuesday night. According to sheriff's reports, Tracy admitted to shooting his father several times in the dining room of the home Saturday morning. He then admitted to burying the body under 14 inches of dirt.

Police became involved in the investigation when Tracy reported his father missing on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, police had found James' abandoned car near North Webster. The car was packed with suitcases full of clothing, apparently for James' trip to Florida. When police began questioning Tracy, he allegedly admitted killing his father.

Tracy apparently used hydrogen peroxide to clean bloodstains off the dining room floor carpet and then covered the washed-out stains with throw rugs before police visited the home.

An autopsy was conducted Wednesday, and preliminary reports show Dietzen was shot at least three times in the chest and head.

Police investigators do not know if the murder was planned, but said Tracy had purchased the gun recently. Tracy had no prior record with the police.

Tracy and James lived alone in the home. James was the owner of a bakery in Anderson that he sold when he retired in the 1970s.

Police said there were no witnesses who heard shots since most of the neighbors are in Florida. [[In-content Ad]]

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