Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 14, 1991 TAG: 9102150005
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
S.C. Delp, special agent in charge of investigation for the state police in Wytheville, said police have no suspects in the explosion.
"The possibility exists it was no criminal act," Delp said. "Right now, we just don't know. To this point, we have not come up with anything of significance."
Charlie Matney, 63, was killed when a commercially produced explosive ripped through the trailer in Deer Trail Park just off U.S. 21 and U.S. 52. Matney, a Jolo, W.Va., well driller, used the trailer for a hunting lodge and storage shed. There was no lock on the door.
"He kept tools and miscellaneous items in the trailer," Delp said.
He refused to say whether explosives were kept in the trailer, but added that Matney was not known to use explosives in his well-drilling business. Police have no evidence of how the explosive was detonated.
State police have questioned more than 25 people in Virginia and West Virginia in connection with Matney's death. Delp said police have determined the manufacturer of the explosive, but that has not produced any significant leads. He would not specify the type of blasting agent.
Delp said police have ruled out common household distillates, such as gasoline, as the cause of the blast. Earlier, they had ruled out propane gas as the cause after finding the trailer's propane gas equipment intact.
Matney died shortly after he was driven to the trailer from his West Virginia home by a neighbor, Melvin Rowe. Rowe sat in a pickup truck while Matney went into the trailer. The blast was strong enough to knock out one of the truck's windows.
by CNB