Indianapolis house explosion kills two, destroys neighborhood

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Matt Pearce - The Los Angeles Times


http://i.imgur.com/0zNzi.jpg

Officials are trying to learn why a Saturday night house explosion and fire in a south Indianapolis neighborhood killed two people, flattened two homes, destroyed more than two dozen others and forced a whole neighborhood to evacuate.

The explosion rocked the Richmond Hill subdivision sometime after 11 p.m. The blast was so large that Marc Lotter, spokesman for Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, told the Los Angeles Times that "most" of the homes in the 126-home subdivision incurred some kind of damage -- including blown-out doors and windows, and total destruction at the center of the explosion.

Indianapolis Fire Department officials have not yet ruled out any cause for the blast that sent seven other residents to the hospital and shocked nearby survivors.

Whitney Pflanzer and her husband told the Indianapolis Star they were in bed when the explosion blew out their windows and collapsed their ceiling.

"It was like a war zone," Whitney Pflanzer told the Star. "It was silent after that. And it was dark and dusty, and I thought it was a nightmare — it was a nightmare."

Footage from the aftermath Saturday night showed firefighters picking through mounds of ruin as the flames flickered. Aerial footage the next morning showed the extent of the damage -- piles of rubble where two homes used to be, homes half-destroyed next door, other nearby roofs and walls blown out.

Lotter told the Los Angeles Times that 30 homes were deemed uninhabitable and would have to be demolished or extensively rehabilitated to be livable again. Initial property damage estimates exceeded $3.6 million.

Only a few residents had been allowed back into their homes to gather belongings. Survivors were working with friends, family and the American Red Crossto find places to stay, Lotter said, with the nearby Southport Presbyterian Church serving as a staging area. Local media photos showed volunteers bringing in piles of supplies for the survivors.

“In the typical Hoosier fashion, neighbors are stepping up to help their neighbors in need," Lotter said.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was assisting with the investigation to determine whether arson was involved.

[Loser]

Meth lab? :-k

[Lambchop]

Holy poop. I wonder why they used that much wood in the structure of the house. Wouldn't brick or similar have a higher blast resistance? Not that they were expecting an explosion but still...

[KevinD]

Holy poop. I wonder why they used that much wood in the structure of the house. Wouldn't brick or similar have a higher blast resistance? Not that they were expecting an explosion but still...

Brick (or stone) is usually just a veneer (siding) with wood studded load walls in the US. To my knowledge, typically, only very expensive homes are built with real brick/stone walls.

Still haven't heard the cause yet, but my guess, judging by the blast is terrorist failing to properly make a bomb.

[Iffy]

Welcome to this session of Ask a Hoosier

In this episode we step away from insane politicians and talk about something that has happened to us all at some point in our life...Our house explodes and takes out the neighborhood. Good times.


All that has been disclosed at this point is that a natural gas leak is suspected and that the fatalities occurred in the property next to the property that was the source of the original explosion. The owners of the ground zero property were supposedly staying in a hotel because the furnace wasn't working.

I'll update this thread as I get more information...unless I have something better to do

[Pony]

All that has been disclosed at this point is that a natural gas leak is suspected and that the fatalities occurred in the property next to the property that was the source of the original explosion. The owners of the ground zero property were supposedly staying in a hotel because the furnace wasn't working.

I'll update this thread as I get more information...unless I have something better to do

Wow, usually gas leak explosions destroy the house but aren't typically powerful enough to do this kind of damage, place must have been sealed up tight with a lot of gas accumulated...

[minz]

Wow, usually gas leak explosions destroy the house but aren't typically powerful enough to do this kind of damage, place must have been sealed up tight with a lot of gas accumulated...

I dont know, there was something like this a few months back here that took out 4 homes and damaged others around it and they were brick built homes, that was found to be a faulty gas appliance. :dunno:

[Hal-9000]

Welcome to this session of Ask a Hoosier

In this episode we step away from insane politicians and talk about something that has happened to us all at some point in our life...Our house explodes and takes out the neighborhood. Good times.


All that has been disclosed at this point is that a natural gas leak is suspected and that the fatalities occurred in the property next to the property that was the source of the original explosion. The owners of the ground zero property were supposedly staying in a hotel because the furnace wasn't working.

I'll update this thread as I get more information...unless I have something better to do


Wow, usually gas leak explosions destroy the house but aren't typically powerful enough to do this kind of damage, place must have been sealed up tight with a lot of gas accumulated...

We had a home in our neighborhood (about 5 blocks away) explode because of a gas main and it took out about half of the house next door. Apparently one of the occupants from house A (explosion house), ended up halfway though the ceiling in house B (next door). We got there in time to see the firemen cut out the section of roof complete with dude from house B :shock:

The damage was complete to house A, as in nothing left. House B looked like it could have been repaired...at a huge cost. The house on the other side, house C, had minimal damage to their roof and side facing the blast house.

It was similar to the picture above, only on a much smaller scale. We heard the blast from my place...

[Teh One Who Knocks]

I dont know, there was something like this a few months back here that took out 4 homes and damaged others around it and they were brick built homes, that was found to be a faulty gas appliance. :dunno:

Awwww, isn't that cute, a girl is trying to talk science with the men :)










































:outtahere:

[Hal-9000]

gonna be another 'splosion real quick...



bye :lol:

[minz]

Awwww, isn't that cute, a girl is trying to talk science with the men :)










































:outtahere:

:slap:

[Hal-9000]

false alarm...phew!

[Hal-9000]

those are some damn big houses judging by the pic.....I smell money in that hood..

[minz]

false alarm...phew!

Only because I'm in a good mood tonight.

[Hal-9000]

....
All that has been disclosed at this point is that a natural gas leak is suspected and that the fatalities occurred in the property next to the property that was the source of the original explosion. The owners of the ground zero property were supposedly staying in a hotel because the furnace wasn't working.




could be the understatement headline of the month...

[Hal-9000]

Only because I'm in a good mood tonight.


what's wrong? :lol:

[minz]

what's wrong? :lol:

:slap:

OK was in a good mood :x

[Iffy]

those are some damn big houses judging by the pic.....I smell money in that hood..

Typical 2000+ sqft homes which are pretty common around here. Probably somewhere in the $130's to $150's. Maybe less in this market

[Richard Cranium]

99.9% its a NG explosion.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Emily Longnecker - WTHR-TV Channel 13


INDIANAPOLIS -

The Marion County prosecutor announced the investigation into last weekend's south side explosion has turned into a criminal homicide investigation Monday.

It was the first time the people who lived in the Richmond HIll subdivision learned for certain what many had suspected all along, that the deadly explosion that devastated their neighborhood was no accident.

Speaking at a news conference Monday evening, Indianapolis Department of Homeland Security Chief Gary Coons, who is also the incident commander at the Richmond Hill subdivision explosion site, said investigators were turning it into a criminal homicide investigation.

"We can confirm tonight that there is an active homicide investigation in this matter," said Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry.

The Indianapolis Fire Department, Indianapolis Metro Police, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Marion County Prosecutor's Office are among the agencies investigating the incident.

Curry said the Indianapolis Metro Police Department and his office had interviewed "numerous witnesses and executed search warrants."

Crime Stoppers is offering $1,000 and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is offering up to $10,000 leading to an arrest and conviction. Anonymous tips can be called in to Central Indiana Crime Stoppers at 262-TIPS.

"If anyone has information about a white van seen in the Richmond Hills subdivision the afternoon of November 10 and information about the occupants of that van, we ask that such information be communicated to Crime Stoppers, as well," Curry said.

"That van had been an issue, a topic of issue the past couple, three weeks," said Richmond Hill Neighborhood Crime Watch Captain Doug Aldridge.

Richmond Hill's Neighborhood Crime Watch captain says neighbors had seen a white van before at the first home that blew up. The home, where investigators say Moncy Shirley, her boyfriend Mark Leonard and Shirley's daughter lived. The family wasn't home when the house exploded.

Sources told Eyewitness News a white van was towed and will be searched for evidence related to the explosion. Sources also said investigators will try to figure out who had the van last. There was no word, though, if the van towed was the same one residents spotted in their neighborhood.

Investigators haven't named any suspects. Shirley has said police have interviewed both her and her and Leonard. Shirley has denied having anything to do with what happened.

The development comes on the same day that Jennifer and Dion Longworth, the couple killed in the Nov. 10 explosion in the Richmond Hill subdivision, were laid to rest.

"As many of you know, I was here yesterday, and today I went to a funeral Mass. And during that Mass, I was having trouble between myself and a sense of peace and reconciliation. I could not even imagine what the families are going through. But there is a secular side to this. There is a search for truth and there is a search for justice," said Mayor Greg Ballard.

Monday, around 20 police and firemen were shoveling their way through the last layer of ashes and debris in the garage of the home where the explosion is thought to have occurred.

Their work is arduous and painstaking. After eight days of detective work, they appear now to be looking for the smallest of clues.

Investigators are trying to find the source of a suspected natural gas leak and determine whether the fiery blast was the result of a malfunctioning appliance, an accident, or an intentional act.

Now it appears that investigators believe it was intentional, but they are not releasing any details at this point.

The Longworths lived next door to the home that exploded. Their house collapsed and burned around them. The explosion damaged dozens of other homes, and nearly a quarter of the neighborhood's houses are unsafe to live in.

The city wants them boarded up and secure by the end of the day. Contractors and homeowners appear close to meeting the deadline, and some are already making repairs, with new windows, new doors and new siding going up.

Prosecutor's statement

The full statement from Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry at Monday evening's press conference:

"We are here this evening to provide an update regarding the explosion which occurred in a residence on Fieldfare Way on Saturday evening, November 10th. As you are all aware, Jennifer and John Longworth died as a result of that explosion and their funeral was today. Our thoughts and prayers are with their family, those injured in the explosion, and the families who lost homes and property as a result of the explosion.

While the fire investigation has been progressing, there has been a parallel investigation, not solely focusing on the cause of the explosion but focusing on individuals who may have been responsible once accidental causes were eliminated. That investigation has consisted of numerous interviews with various individuals as well as execution of a number of search warrants and is being conducted jointly by the IMPD and the MCPO.

Based upon those interviews and results of those search warrants, that investigation is now considered an active criminal homicide investigation.

We have been advised that Crime Stoppers is offering a $1000 reward for information leading to an arrest in this case. Special Agent in Charge Robin Shoemaker of ATF has authorized a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

While details of the homicide investigation cannot be released at this time we are asking that anyone with information about the explosion contact Crime Stoppers.

Lastly, if anyone has information about a white van seen in the Richmond Hill subdivision the afternoon of November 10 and information about the occupants of that van, we ask that such information be communicated to Crime Stoppers as well."

[deebakes]

wow :shock:

[Hal-9000]

Typical 2000+ sqft homes which are pretty common around here. Probably somewhere in the $130's to $150's. Maybe less in this market

wow...homes that size start at 750k here, depending on the lot and amenities

[Hal-9000]

heard that it now may be a homicide investigation...the plot thickens hmmmm

[Iffy]

Last I heard they arrested two people. One was the brother of the boyfriend of the homeowner of ground zero

[Acid Trip]

Last I heard they arrested two people. One was the brother of the boyfriend of the homeowner of ground zero

Sounds like a lovers quarrel.

[Iffy]

Sounds like a lovers quarrel.

The owner boarded her cat while she was taking an overnight casino trip (casino is about 30 miles from where she lives) because it had anxiety issues when she wasnt there. Very much appears that she is involved somehow