A Gratiot County man has been charged in connection with a fatal house explosion that claimed the life of a woman and seriously injured a child in early March. Aaron Painter, 35, from Alma, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, third-degree child abuse, and the delivery-manufacture of marijuana, as reported by News 3 Channel.
The explosion occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. on March 6 in the 700 block of East Chestnut Street in Breckenridge. Firefighters who were called to the scene found a fully engulfed house fire, Ali Smith, 34, lost her life due to the fire and her 7-year-old daughter sustained severe burns. Despite neighbors not hearing the initial explosion, they noticed smoke and flames emerging from the property.
Painter, who was Smith's boyfriend at the time of the incident, was also injured during the fire. He has posted a bond of $2,525, which is 10% of the total required for his bail. The Gratiot County Sheriff's Office, alongside the Michigan State Police Fire Investigation Division, is still looking into the cause and origin of the destructive blaze. Their findings have yet to be disclosed to the public, as mentioned in a report by The Morning Sun.
The prosecutor handling the case alongside the sheriff expressed a desire to release more details in a forthcoming press release. According to The Morning Sun, Gratiot County Sheriff Mike Morris and Prosecutor Laura Bever indicated they hoped "to put out a joint press release Friday or sometime next week" for further information on the investigation. Court records reveal that Painter will return to court for a probable cause hearing on June 13 and a preliminary examination on June 20.
The community has been left seeking answers and justice as a child recuperates from severe injuries, and a family grapples with the tragic loss of a loved one. These court proceedings will unfold in the shadow, of a search for the truth behind a devastating and fatal fire that has shattered the quietude of Breckenridge.
