Explosion in Southern Indianapolis...possible meteor fragment??
- Thread starter Gimpy
- Start date
anart said:
Yeh, it was largely pooh-poohed of course, but from glancing through the large ATS thread, the most coherent posters seemed to be aware of the increasing fireball flux and realised that it couldn't be ruled out as a possibility.
I found a report on the American Meteor Society website of a meteor seen that evening in Indianapolis, but the observer said it "was seen around 10 pm", which would place it over one hour before the explosion:
http://www.amsmeteors.org/fireball_event/2012/1852
Then there's this local media report which isn't dated for some reason. However, it refers to a sighting in Indianapolis that happened at 1am on a Thursday, so it probably isn't related to last Saturday night's event:
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=1201466
Heck, at the rate fireballs and meteors are being reported the world over, Indianapolis alone could now have sightings on a nightly basis:
http://thelatestworldwidemeteorreports.blogspot.com
It's only a matter of time before a major urban center has an undeniable impact/overhead explosion event.
Gimpy
The Living Force
anart said:
I'm not able to find topographical maps of the area in question by township. The site that popped up first is geared to parks and nature trails. Not quite what I'm looking for, but here it is in case someone has fresher eyes: http://www.topozone.com/
The township the subdivision is in is Perry township, Richmond Hills Subdivision.
As for ATS, its not a trusted site, and I wonder if the energy expended trying to sort out the truth from the mud is worth it?
Gimpy
The Living Force
This is a follow up article. My Hubby's boss smelled gas last week, and this is the report on that from the news, that confirmed what it was:
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/local-news/police-underground-gas-leak-reported-in-hamilton-county-on-lantern-road-and-116th-street
FISHERS, Ind. -
An underground gas leak was reported in Fishers just after midnight on Monday, Hamilton County officials said.
Fishers Deputy Fire Marshal Ron Lipps said a driver in the area of Lantern Road and 116 th Street reported a gas smell about 12:15 a.m., and called 911.
Fishers firefighters and representatives from Vectren Energy were called to the scene and confirmed a leak seeping from underground.
Due to the leak's proximity to Fishers Elementary, school officials were made aware of the situation.
Investigators are still working to determine what caused the line to rupture.
No homes were evacuated, but Lantern Road near 116 th Street was shut down as Vectren crews worked to repair the leak.
Watch RTV6 and refresh this page for updates.
Planning on doing more digging later today on maps, I've got time set aside.
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/local-news/police-underground-gas-leak-reported-in-hamilton-county-on-lantern-road-and-116th-street
FISHERS, Ind. -
An underground gas leak was reported in Fishers just after midnight on Monday, Hamilton County officials said.
Fishers Deputy Fire Marshal Ron Lipps said a driver in the area of Lantern Road and 116 th Street reported a gas smell about 12:15 a.m., and called 911.
Fishers firefighters and representatives from Vectren Energy were called to the scene and confirmed a leak seeping from underground.
Due to the leak's proximity to Fishers Elementary, school officials were made aware of the situation.
Investigators are still working to determine what caused the line to rupture.
No homes were evacuated, but Lantern Road near 116 th Street was shut down as Vectren crews worked to repair the leak.
Watch RTV6 and refresh this page for updates.
Planning on doing more digging later today on maps, I've got time set aside.
Gimpy
The Living Force
Breaking news...just saw this. It appears its gone from an explosion investigation to homicide, but there is little being said other than that:
http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-police-house-explosion-was-not-an-accident-20121119,0,839314.column
By Russ McQuaid
4:15 p.m. EST, November 19, 2012
Indianapolis
Fox59 News has learned that Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department homicide detectives have determined that the Nov. 10 explosion at the Richmond Hill subdivision was an intentional act.
“A criminal homicide investigation” is how police are referring to the probe. The Indianapolis Fire Department still considers this a fire investigation. Richmond Hill residents will be advised of the decision Monday during a 6 p.m. meeting at Southport Presbyterian Church.
That meeting will include IMPD, IFD, Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry, Adam Collins of the Department of Code Enforcement and Homeland Security Chief Gary Coons.
In other developments, the boyfriend of the woman whose house exploded told Fox59 News he was meeting with investigators today as crews continue to sift through the debris to determine a cause in the fatal blast.
Mark Leonard was interviewed by investigators from State Farm Insurance, the company that insured the home of Moncy Shirley at 8349 Fieldfare Way. The home exploded in a natural gas blast in the Richmond Hill development.
Police, fire and insurance investigators continue their probe into the explosion that killed Jennifer and Dion Longworth, neighbors of Shirley and Leonard who lived in the Perry Township home.
Shirley and Leonard were at the Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg when the explosion occurred.
Neighborhood damages are listed at $4.4 million.
For the first time, Fox59 News is getting a look inside the Shirley home before the blast.
When Shirley listed her home for sale in March 2011, a real estate agent took pictures of the property and its contents.
The photos depict a tastefully and comfortably decorated two-story, four-bedroom home.
Shown in the photos are tables, chairs, couches, beds and kitchen appliances—items investigators are looking for as they comb through the debris at Shirley’s home.
A disclosure form filed with the listing and signed by Shirley indicates no problems with the home’s gas furnace, water heater or fireplace or its electric stove and oven.
Shirley first listed the home for nearly $189,000. The price dropped to $149,000 before the home was taken off the market this past spring.
The filing contains notice that, “Seller discloses that the sale of this property will require lender approval of a short sale,” which would require Shirley to put up cash to complete the deal.
A source indicates that a short sale this past summer fell through due to Shirley’s inability to provide $30,000 as part of the bargain.
Approximately 70 investigators from various agencies have probed the wreckage since the time of the blast including fire investigators looking for signs of arson and IMPD homicide detectives conducting a death investigation.
Detectives also would be looking to recover evidence such as appliances or devices that may have been altered or had unusual settings.
“At this point they’re still processing the scene and looking at things that may have come from the interior of one of the homes there,” said Capt. Rita Reith of the Indianapolis Fire Department. “The reality is there is a large area that they’re looking at simply because it was an explosion. They have to cover the entire area. They’re collecting and searching, making sure they leave no stone unturned.”
Upon the finding of the National Transportation Safety Board that the gas lines of Citizens Energy were not to blame for the blast, Indianapolis Homeland Security Chief Gary Coons said, “Our investigators believe natural gas is involved. They are currently in the process of recovering the appliances from the destroyed homes to help determine the cause. Based on the NTSB statement, our focus is on the houses and appliances.”
Investigators have also recovered the gas meter from the home. They will test it to determine if it registered an unusual spike in natural gas usage the day of the blast.
http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-police-house-explosion-was-not-an-accident-20121119,0,839314.column
By Russ McQuaid
4:15 p.m. EST, November 19, 2012
Indianapolis
Fox59 News has learned that Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department homicide detectives have determined that the Nov. 10 explosion at the Richmond Hill subdivision was an intentional act.
“A criminal homicide investigation” is how police are referring to the probe. The Indianapolis Fire Department still considers this a fire investigation. Richmond Hill residents will be advised of the decision Monday during a 6 p.m. meeting at Southport Presbyterian Church.
That meeting will include IMPD, IFD, Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry, Adam Collins of the Department of Code Enforcement and Homeland Security Chief Gary Coons.
In other developments, the boyfriend of the woman whose house exploded told Fox59 News he was meeting with investigators today as crews continue to sift through the debris to determine a cause in the fatal blast.
Mark Leonard was interviewed by investigators from State Farm Insurance, the company that insured the home of Moncy Shirley at 8349 Fieldfare Way. The home exploded in a natural gas blast in the Richmond Hill development.
Police, fire and insurance investigators continue their probe into the explosion that killed Jennifer and Dion Longworth, neighbors of Shirley and Leonard who lived in the Perry Township home.
Shirley and Leonard were at the Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg when the explosion occurred.
Neighborhood damages are listed at $4.4 million.
For the first time, Fox59 News is getting a look inside the Shirley home before the blast.
When Shirley listed her home for sale in March 2011, a real estate agent took pictures of the property and its contents.
The photos depict a tastefully and comfortably decorated two-story, four-bedroom home.
Shown in the photos are tables, chairs, couches, beds and kitchen appliances—items investigators are looking for as they comb through the debris at Shirley’s home.
A disclosure form filed with the listing and signed by Shirley indicates no problems with the home’s gas furnace, water heater or fireplace or its electric stove and oven.
Shirley first listed the home for nearly $189,000. The price dropped to $149,000 before the home was taken off the market this past spring.
The filing contains notice that, “Seller discloses that the sale of this property will require lender approval of a short sale,” which would require Shirley to put up cash to complete the deal.
A source indicates that a short sale this past summer fell through due to Shirley’s inability to provide $30,000 as part of the bargain.
Approximately 70 investigators from various agencies have probed the wreckage since the time of the blast including fire investigators looking for signs of arson and IMPD homicide detectives conducting a death investigation.
Detectives also would be looking to recover evidence such as appliances or devices that may have been altered or had unusual settings.
“At this point they’re still processing the scene and looking at things that may have come from the interior of one of the homes there,” said Capt. Rita Reith of the Indianapolis Fire Department. “The reality is there is a large area that they’re looking at simply because it was an explosion. They have to cover the entire area. They’re collecting and searching, making sure they leave no stone unturned.”
Upon the finding of the National Transportation Safety Board that the gas lines of Citizens Energy were not to blame for the blast, Indianapolis Homeland Security Chief Gary Coons said, “Our investigators believe natural gas is involved. They are currently in the process of recovering the appliances from the destroyed homes to help determine the cause. Based on the NTSB statement, our focus is on the houses and appliances.”
Investigators have also recovered the gas meter from the home. They will test it to determine if it registered an unusual spike in natural gas usage the day of the blast.
ggen
Jedi Master
Words on MSM this evening about the explosion.
-As of today, the scene is now being treated as a crime scene, and investigation has turned into a 'criminal investigation'.
-Some repairs are being done in the neighborhood, except for '11' houses and their properties being fenced off so no one without authorization can enter.
-The crews doing the removal of debris from the house where the explosion was thought to have originated have reached the stone floor of the basement in their efforts. All of the debris from the one house has been gone through and hauled away.
Whatever happened (s), all of this smells rotten.
-As of today, the scene is now being treated as a crime scene, and investigation has turned into a 'criminal investigation'.
-Some repairs are being done in the neighborhood, except for '11' houses and their properties being fenced off so no one without authorization can enter.
-The crews doing the removal of debris from the house where the explosion was thought to have originated have reached the stone floor of the basement in their efforts. All of the debris from the one house has been gone through and hauled away.
Whatever happened (s), all of this smells rotten.
doublea1535
Jedi Council Member
Regarding the trees not shedding their leaves during the explosion, it seems plausible to me that they would not. In an explosion scenario, the outburst would be very short-lived, very different from a storm that has sustained forces acting against the trees and leaves. Trees have evolved to handle some amount of storms and survive the exposure, in part because they go with the flow so to speak. Leaves and even limbs exposed to a blast would bend with the direction of force, not stand rigidly against it like a building would. Seeing many leaves still left on the trees doesn't surprise me personally. What I would like to see is some close-ups of the leaves still on the trees - to see if there are little holes in them indicating they were exposed to a blast that was strong enough to force itself through the leaf itself, but without ripping the leaf off the stem. Before the entire leaf itself had the chance to turn into the blast, and allow most of the force to bypass it basically.
It looks like an a missile or some other "intelligent" blast. From the pictures posted, it looks like the explosion happened somewhere between the houses demolished in between the 1st and 2nd stories of the buildings.
It looks like an a missile or some other "intelligent" blast. From the pictures posted, it looks like the explosion happened somewhere between the houses demolished in between the 1st and 2nd stories of the buildings.
Gimpy
The Living Force
Update on the 'criminal investigation':
http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-south-side-disaster-explosion-police-offering-reward-for-information-about-white-van-seen-prior-to-e-20121119,0,798584.column
By Reba Chenoweth
6:23 p.m. EST, November 19, 2012
Indianapolis
During a press conference Monday, officials confirmed the investigation into a deadly explosion on the city's south side has turned into a homicide investigation.
"There's been a parallel investigation not only focused on the cause but also determining if there may have been individuals involved in this," said Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry. "Based upon interviews and search warrants, there is an active homicide investigation into this matter."
Officials are now asking for information about a white van seen in the Richmond Hills neighborhood on the day of the explosion.
The announcement followed the funeral for the two people killed in the explosion, Dion and Jennifer Longworth.
"Today, I went to the funeral mass and during that mass, I was having trouble within myself coming to a sense of peace and reconciliation," said Mayor Greg Ballard.
"I couldn't imagine what the families were going through.
"There's a secular side to this, there is a search for truth and a search for justice."
A total of $11,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers
http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-south-side-disaster-explosion-police-offering-reward-for-information-about-white-van-seen-prior-to-e-20121119,0,798584.column
By Reba Chenoweth
6:23 p.m. EST, November 19, 2012
Indianapolis
During a press conference Monday, officials confirmed the investigation into a deadly explosion on the city's south side has turned into a homicide investigation.
"There's been a parallel investigation not only focused on the cause but also determining if there may have been individuals involved in this," said Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry. "Based upon interviews and search warrants, there is an active homicide investigation into this matter."
Officials are now asking for information about a white van seen in the Richmond Hills neighborhood on the day of the explosion.
The announcement followed the funeral for the two people killed in the explosion, Dion and Jennifer Longworth.
"Today, I went to the funeral mass and during that mass, I was having trouble within myself coming to a sense of peace and reconciliation," said Mayor Greg Ballard.
"I couldn't imagine what the families were going through.
"There's a secular side to this, there is a search for truth and a search for justice."
A total of $11,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers
doublea1535
Jedi Council Member
1984 said:Gimpy said:
At this point, seems likely whatever patsy('s) they find are also going have this 11 connection eh?
Gimpy
The Living Force
Is it just me, or are the headlines getting to be a declaration on what the officials are actually doing? It appears the patsy's, if there are any, are shaping up to be the woman who lived there and her boyfriend. The comments under this article are nasty. Some of the pictures are odd in that they show that the blast appeared to slice the roof line of one of the houses off in a neat way....it almost looks like it was scooped by something. The oddities are piling up on this one. :/
http://www.wthr.com/story/20148492/investigators-limit-information-on-south-side-explosion?Clienttype=generic&mobilecgbypass
Posted: Nov 20, 2012 12:46 PM EST Updated: Nov 20, 2012 2:56 PM EST
INDIANAPOLIS -
Investigators are keeping details to themselves after announcing Monday that the Nov. 10 explosion on the Indianapolis south side was no accident.
Monday evening, Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said investigators were hoping to talk to anyone who spotted a white van in the Richmond Hill subdivision on the evening of the blast. But no suspects have been named, and so far, detectives are not releasing information about what led them to the conclusion that the explosion was the result of a criminal act.
Monday's announcement that it is now a criminal matter has not diminished the size or intensity of the investigation. Local and federal arson investigators spent the morning picking their way through the home that exploded as well as nearby homes.
Terry Curry calls it a painstaking search for evidence. One thing that is not visible at the explosion site is the work of detectives who are pursuing the murder investigation. They have served search warrants and conducted numerous interviews.
However, Curry is saying very little about the warrants, what was searched; what, if anything, investigators found, or even the people being interviewed. He is also not saying anything about the precise cause of the explosion.
As for the white van, the prosecutor is not providing the make or model of the vehicle that was spotted parked in front of the home the day before it exploded. On Tuesday, Curry explained the strategy of keeping certain information from the public.
"The concern is that if you put out sufficient detail, then you can't judge the credibility of the people who supply the information. We don't want to taint any legitimate information that comes into our office and in to investigators," he said.
Meantime, investigators continue to sift through the remains of the damaged or destroyed homes looking for evidence.
Crime Stoppers is offering $1,000 and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is offering up to $10,000 leading to an arrest and conviction. Anonymous tips can be called in to Central Indiana Crime Stoppers
Is it strange to anyone else that they broke up the eleven reference like that? This whole thing is too hinky for words. At this point I don't think the truth will ever be known, not when its locked down under a homicide investigation.
http://www.wthr.com/story/20148492/investigators-limit-information-on-south-side-explosion?Clienttype=generic&mobilecgbypass
Posted: Nov 20, 2012 12:46 PM EST Updated: Nov 20, 2012 2:56 PM EST
INDIANAPOLIS -
Investigators are keeping details to themselves after announcing Monday that the Nov. 10 explosion on the Indianapolis south side was no accident.
Monday evening, Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said investigators were hoping to talk to anyone who spotted a white van in the Richmond Hill subdivision on the evening of the blast. But no suspects have been named, and so far, detectives are not releasing information about what led them to the conclusion that the explosion was the result of a criminal act.
Monday's announcement that it is now a criminal matter has not diminished the size or intensity of the investigation. Local and federal arson investigators spent the morning picking their way through the home that exploded as well as nearby homes.
Terry Curry calls it a painstaking search for evidence. One thing that is not visible at the explosion site is the work of detectives who are pursuing the murder investigation. They have served search warrants and conducted numerous interviews.
However, Curry is saying very little about the warrants, what was searched; what, if anything, investigators found, or even the people being interviewed. He is also not saying anything about the precise cause of the explosion.
As for the white van, the prosecutor is not providing the make or model of the vehicle that was spotted parked in front of the home the day before it exploded. On Tuesday, Curry explained the strategy of keeping certain information from the public.
"The concern is that if you put out sufficient detail, then you can't judge the credibility of the people who supply the information. We don't want to taint any legitimate information that comes into our office and in to investigators," he said.
Meantime, investigators continue to sift through the remains of the damaged or destroyed homes looking for evidence.
Crime Stoppers is offering $1,000 and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is offering up to $10,000 leading to an arrest and conviction. Anonymous tips can be called in to Central Indiana Crime Stoppers
Is it strange to anyone else that they broke up the eleven reference like that? This whole thing is too hinky for words. At this point I don't think the truth will ever be known, not when its locked down under a homicide investigation.