Officials arrive at the scene to begin their investigation./Photo by William Padmore, KLIN
After an extended investigation, Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister says investigators have deemed the death of a couple from a house explosion in August of last year a murder-suicide.
“The investigation lead us to believe the intentional action of Jimmy Jasa specifically lead to the death of Jeanne Jasa” says Bliemeister. “Nothing has surfaced that would suggest that she had any knowledge of this preceding that day in August.”
Additionally, Bliemeister told Nebraska Radio Network affiliate KLIN, state inspectors determined 34 homes in the neighborhood were damaged as a result of the eplosion, with two having to be destroyed entirely.
Lincoln Chief Fire Investigator Bill Moody says that in this particular case the air to fire mixture was deadly.
“We had a massive detonation,” says Moody, who says normal gas explosion occur as de-flagrations. “But in this particular case it pretty much incinerated this entire structure.”
Relatives had filed claims against the city, Lancaster County and Black Hills, alleging negligence.
Their attorney says they need to review the investigation findings before deciding whether to press the claim.
KLIN’s Jane Monnich Contributed to this report