Friday, March 13, 2015

A MAN ACCUSED OF SPARKING A NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION AT HIS CANON CITY HOME IN AN ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SUICIDE WILL UNDERGO A PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION BEFORE ENTERING A PLEA.




MARCH 12, 2015

CANON CITY, COLO. (AP)

A man accused of sparking a natural gas explosion at his Canon City home in an attempt to commit suicide will undergo a psychiatric evaluation before entering a plea.

The Canon City Daily Record reports Mathew Christensen, who is facing charges of fourth-degree arson and felony criminal mischief, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing April 8.

Investigators say the Sept. 4 explosion, which was caused by a natural gas detonation, threw Christensen into the backyard. 

The house was destroyed, but the man escaped with non-life-threatening burns.

Nearby homes and vehicles were damaged, and insulation and debris from the exploded home was strewn across the neighborhood and in nearby streets.