A Michigan couple’s home was seen engulfed in flames, killing a man and seriously injuring his wife, but the tragic incident is now believed to have been an intentional plot, police say.
Lucy Preston, 61, and her husband were both at home in Plainfield Township when a house fire erupted at around 4am on Tuesday, leaving Lucy in intensive care and her husband dead while they lost all of their belongings.
However, the devastating fire is now believed to have been intentionally set by Lucy’s husband in an attempted murder-suicide, according to the Kent County Sheriff’s Office.
‘This is believed to be a domestic-related situation … and that the fire was intentionally set, we believe by the husband at this point, intending to be a murder-suicide,’ Undersheriff Bryan Muir said on Tuesday, Wood-TV reported.
Preliminary investigation led officials to believe that natural gas was released into the basement intentionally prior to the explosion, although what ignited the fire remains unclear.
Muir added that investigators uncovered ‘some text messages, exchanges, as well as some statements’ that led them to their conclusion, according to the outlet.
Court documents obtained by the outlet also revealed that Lucy and Doug Scott Preston were amid a divorce case, which was filed just 85 days before the tragedy.
The pair were set to next appear in court on Friday.
Lucy Preston, 61, seen above, and her husband were both at home in Plainfield Township when a house fire erupted at around 4am on Tuesday, leaving Lucy in intensive care and her husband dead while they lost all of their belongings
The devastating fire that ‘leveled’ the couple’s home, seen above, is now believed to have been intentionally set by Lucy’s husband in an attempted murder-suicide
The pair were going through a divorce which had been filed just 85 days before the fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Their next court appearance was set for Friday
Both were under a mutual restraining order at the time of the incident, something that legal experts told the outlet is a common practice in circumstances such as these.
Lucy had been pulled from the home by two neighbors, Tim Johnson and 17-year-old Mandrell Bryant, with severe injuries and burns and was transported to hospital.
‘We are incredibly thankful to the nearby residents that rushed to [Lucy’s] rescue and were able to pull her from the home,’ Muir said. ‘Without their actions, it’s likely she would have perished in the fire.’
Johnson, who suffered second-degree burns on top of his head during the rescue, said he heard Lucy calling for help after the fire’s blast shook his home.
‘I had to get in there and get her out,’ he told Wood-TV. ‘[Bryant and I] grabbed her arms and pulled her out as far as we could.’
Another body, reportedly that of Lucy’s husband, was pulled from the destroyed home.
According to a GoFundMe created by Lucy’s friends, she remains in the ICU fighting for her life after enduring fourth-degree burns across her body and has been put on a ventilator.
‘Lucy is a caring, selfless person who has always given so much to those around her,’ the fundraiser said. ‘She does so much for her community and is always willing to help others however she can. So many people know and love Lucy for her kindness, generosity and big heart.’
Investigators believe that natural gas was released into the basement intentionally prior to the explosion. Kent County Undersheriff Bryan Muir added that investigators uncovered ‘some text messages, exchanges, as well as some statements’ that led to their conclusion
To those affected by the tragedy, Muir shared the sheriff’s office’s ‘deepest sorrows for having to deal with a situation so tragic.’
‘We really wanted to the community to know this is an isolated incident. There’s no concerns of any gas leaks or any other type of home explosions in the area.’
The incident was captured on a neighbor’s doorbell camera, as the flames were seen erupting in a ball of fire and engulfing the home just before 4am.
‘It sounded like a huge bomb being dropped,’ neighbor Chanel Raddatz told Wood-TV. ‘It’s a very traumatic experience. Shocking to think that it could happen to anybody and knowing, seeing that burst of flame, knowing that people could be inside, it was very traumatic.’
Kurt Dutrizac, another neighbor, told the outlet: ‘There was a massive noise, explosion, rumbling. We saw a fireball, king of a mushroom cloud, still rising from the house.
‘And then I was able to get outside properly within a minute after that and at that point I saw that the house was on fire, kind of the backyard was on fire. There was debris strewn about and there were some screams, shouting.’
The incident saw around 50 calls to emergency services from nearby witnesses, the outlet reported.
‘It was a very loud explosion,’ the undersheriff said. ‘As you can see, there’s debris spread across the street and several of the area homes. It’s not something that happens very often.’
A friend described Lucy as ‘an amazing woman who has always been active in our community.’ ‘Lucy was a stay at home mom and is now facing a very long road ahead. She is going to need love prayers and financial support from all of us,’ her friend said
According to Lucy’s friends, she remains in the ICU fighting for her life after enduring fourth-degree burns across her body and has been put on a ventilator
As emergency crews arrived on scene, they found the home completely ‘leveled,’ according to Alpine Township Fire Chief Jeremy Kelly.
A Facebook post described Lucy as ‘an amazing woman who has always been active in our community.’
‘Lucy was a stay at home mom and is now facing a very long road ahead. She is going to need love prayers and financial support from all of us,’ her friend wrote.
The Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids wrote that Lucy is a ‘dedicated and meaningful part of our community.
‘We are holding her and her family close in our thoughts during this difficult time,’ the society added.
The Daily Mail reached out to the Kent County Sheriff’s Office for comment and further information.
