Apr 9, 2009 1:46 pm US/Eastern
Fatal Scituate House Explosion Was Intentional
SCITUATE (WBZ) ―
A
house explosion that killed a man in Scituate last December has been ruled a suicide by state and local investigators.
David Kupris, 45, died when the home he shared with his girlfriend at 27 Turner Road exploded, leveling that house and damaging several nearby.
On Thursday investigators announced that the home was blown up on purpose, by Kupris himself. "The natural gas drip cap had been intentionally removed, allowing gas to pour into the home," read a statement released by the State Fire Marshal's office.
"Gasoline was poured throughout the basement in an attempt to increase the magnitude of the explosion," the investigators concluded.
State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan said there was a buildup of natural gas and gasoline vapors in the basement. Six gasoline cans were found at the scene and investigators found evidence that David Kupris' car had been used to transport gasoline.
While investigators did not determine exactly what ignited the fumes, they did find the gas stove and two burners left in the 'on' position.
"This past winter there were
several high profile explosions where natural gas was involved that caused great public concern," Coan said. "This case was a deliberate act by one person that sadly injured several neighbors and ruptured the lives of many more."
Seven homes were damaged in the explosion, which was felt a half-mile away. The power of the blast broke windows one-third of a mile away, and blew a dresser from the home 30 feet high into a tree.
Two neighbors and one firefighter were injured.
The explosion was investigated by Scituate fire and police, the State Fire Marshal's office, State Police and the Department of Public Utilities.
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