The Adair County prosecutor's office in Missouri has charged 49-year-old Paul R. Potter with second-degree murder, second-degree arson and tampering with a motor vehicle.
Police have not released the victim's name.
Police officers arrested Potter on Sunday after officers responding to a call of a vehicle fire saw him throw the arms at bystanders. Police said fires also were burning in two apartments and the dismembered body was inside one of them.
Potter is being held on $1 million bond.
A public defender didn't immediately return a call seeking comment Tuesday.