Man details chilling experience of finding 'human bones' in garden firepit - before his own brother was arrested for their uncle's murder

A man who had his own brother arrested for the alleged murder of their uncle after he found 'human bones' in his fire pit has recounted the horrifying tale.

Jason Buchanan, 49, from Mooresville, North Carolina, made the shocking discovery after uncle Charlie Knight's neighbors called him because they were concerned for his safety.

They said a fire in his garden had been burning 'for three days' straight, and that it smelled like a 'dead animal.'

Worried, Jason called the police as he headed over to his uncle's home - but he claimed that he was 'blown off' by authorities and told to search the pit himself.

So he did - but what he uncovered will haunt him for a long time to come.

Jason Buchanan (seen), 49, from North Carolina, had his own brother arrested for the alleged murder of their uncle after he found 'human bones' in his fire pit

'I got a call from my uncle's neighbor one day who said there was a fire burning for three days and they could smell a dead animal,' he explained.

'I went to my uncle's garden to check out the fire. There was a big fire pit out back. I called the police and they blew me off.

'I went to the fire pit and searched the pit myself and I found my uncle's bones. I found human remains in the pit.

'It was awful. I was thinking [that] my uncle was dead and nobody was listening to me.'

Jason said he had last seen his uncle Charlie, a 72-year-old painter, on July 4 - with his last known sighting was on July 10.

Immediately, Jason started to suspect that his younger brother, Stephan Eric Buchanan, 39, had done something to Charlie.

He claimed that Stephan had been driving around in Charlie's car in the last few weeks, and even sold some of his stuff at yard sales.

'I last saw my uncle on July 4 and then [after that date] my brother started pulling up in my uncle's car,' Jason continued.

He made the shocking discovery after his uncle Charlie Knight's neighbors called him because they were concerned for his safety. The bones he found are seen

Jason called the police as he headed over to his uncle's home - but he claimed that he was 'blown off' by authorities and told to search the pit himself

Jason's brother Stephan Eric Buchanan, 39, was then arrested for seven criminal charges and four charges related to probation violations

Jason said he had last seen his uncle Charlie (seen), a 72-year-old painter, on July 4, and that his brother started driving his car afterwards

'I asked Stephan where our uncle was and he told me he was in Louisiana. He had been going to yard sales and selling my uncle's things.'

On August 7, the Cleveland Police Department arrested Stephan for seven criminal charges and four charges related to probation violations - including murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, felon larceny, obtaining property by false pretense, and probation violation.

He has now been extradited to Rowan County Detention Centre where he will await trial.

Jason shared: 'I asked Stephan where our uncle was and he told me he was in Louisiana. He had been going to yard sales and selling my uncle's things.' His uncle's home is seen

In a statement, Cleveland Police Chief Jon Jessop said: 'We want to assure the community that the situation is under control and there is no ongoing threat to public safety.

'Our officers responded promptly and took necessary actions to secure the area.

'We are actively investigating the incident to determine the facts and ensure that appropriate measures are taken.'

Police would not confirm the name of the deceased person involved in the charges.

Jason said that Stephan and his uncle had a 'good relationship' and that he would never forgive his brother.

He added: 'Our uncle raised us - my parents weren't around. He taught me how to ride a bike and play basketball.

'My brother and I had a good relationship and my uncle loved him. It has all been too hard to process - I am mourning the death of two people.'

Stephan will appear before a Grand Jury on September 3.