A man from Plum Borough, Pennsylvania, has been taken into custody under allegations of attempting to orchestrate an explosion in his own house. Neil Yetsko, aged 39, was arrested on charges that include causing or risking catastrophe and a criminal attempt, as detailed in court records. He is currently being held at the Allegheny County Jail after the harrowing incident that could have leveled his residence on Kathy Lynn Drive.
CBS News Pittsburgh reported that Yetsko was denied bail because he posed a danger to himself and the public. These events unfolded following a November incident in which Yetsko, the homeowner, reportedly left town and then called to report a gas leak while intentionally leaving two candles burning inside his house. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next week to examine the case details further.
Upon initial investigation, Yetsko claimed to authorities that he had made dinner for his girlfriend and might have inadvertently left the gas stove on. This detail was later brought into serious question after first responders found two lit candles in the home that Yetsko had not mentioned when submitting his report of the potential leak. In a statement reported by WTAE, it was revealed that his narrative about the discovery of the gas leak to police was inconsistent. He also could not provide information about an alleged friend who he claimed first noticed the leak.
Following multiple interviews with the police, Yetsko's account took a vastly different turn. On December 4, he confessed during a fourth interview that he yanked and slammed his stove in a "fit of rage" after injuring his hand. He said he heard the gas leaking, then sat on the floor for an hour, hoping the house would explode with him inside before leaving. Realizing the magnitude of his actions, he "snapped out" of that state of mind and contacted People's Gas to report the leak, as he later told officials. The admission paints a troubling picture of a man in distress, potentially seeking to harm himself drastically and dangerously, as WTAE reported.
