Explosion kills man making bombs to pay off lawn mower purchase, Ohio sheriff says

An Ohio man died when bombs he was building in his garage exploded, officials say.

The 55-year-old was making improvised explosive devices in a detached garage at his home in Jefferson Township before the blast Saturday, according to the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office.

The garage was burned to the ground and debris was scattered onto a neighbor’s property when deputies arrived at the scene.

The man was taken to a local hospital where he died. His name wasn’t released as of Monday afternoon.

A neighbor told investigators the man intended the sell the explosives to pay off a lawn mower he bought, officials say.

The state fire marshal and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting in the investigation “due to the severity and nature of the incident,” officials say.

This story was originally published May 24, 2021 at 10:29 AM with the headline "Explosion kills man making bombs to pay off lawn mower purchase, Ohio sheriff says."