The Associated Press
JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) - An investigation into a house explosion that killed a suicidal man and a Joplin police officer did not find a definite cause for the explosion, police said Monday.
The explosion occurred Aug. 10 at the home of David Riley, 41, after officers Timothy Nielson and Greg Batson responded to a call that Riley was threatening to commit suicide. Riley, 41, died the next day and Nielson, 26, died more than a month later after suffering extensive burns. Batson was hospitalized for about two weeks.
The report said Riley, who had threatened suicide in the past, was upset on Aug. 10 because his wife had signed divorce papers the day before.
Officials said Riley turned on the natural gas before officers arrived at his home. The house exploded when Batson fired his Taser stun gun at Riley while trying to subdue him inside the house, but police said Monday that electric light switches, a pilot light, an electric fan or static electricity on Riley’s clothes could have ignited the gas.
Detective Sgt. Brian Lewis wrote in his investigative report that a Missouri Division of Fire Safety report found there was not enough conclusive evidence to determine the cause of the explosion. The report was part of 40 pages of interviews and investigative reports on the fire released Monday by Joplin police.
Police Chief Kevin Lindsey also said the investigation was complete.