Missouri man accused of making IEDs after blast at senior housing complex
A Missouri man has been charged after an explosion at a senior housing complex in Odessa, where investigators found chemicals and other items linked to homemade explosive devices, according to police and court records.
The explosion happened Monday morning in the 200 block of East Otway Street in Odessa, about 40 miles east of Kansas City. Initial reports suggested a natural gas incident, but investigators later determined that chemicals associated with an improvised explosive device had caused the blast.
The suspect, identified in court records as Stanley Box, was the only person inside the unit where the explosion happened and was not injured, according to Odessa police. Three neighboring apartments were occupied at the time, but no injuries were reported.
Specialized investigators from the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office and Spire, Inc., a natural gas utility company, determined the explosion was not related to natural gas. Police said the investigation changed after evidence at the scene pointed to chemicals connected to an improvised explosive device.
Odessa first responders evacuated the immediate area and requested help from federal, state and county agencies, including the FBI, ATF, Missouri State Highway Patrol Bomb Squad and the Lafayette County Drug Task Force. Authorities said the scene was rendered safe by about 7 p.m., and evacuated residents were allowed to return home.
Court records cited by KFOR said officers noticed a chemical smell coming from one of the units and removed Box from the property. Investigators said he tried to reenter the apartment several times before being stopped by an officer.
Fire marshal investigators found multiple items in the wreckage that were consistent with the manufacture of narcotics and improvised explosive devices, including beakers, a digital scale, measuring cups, electric fuses, tools used to crush items and an electric mixing or heating tool, according to the court records.
The apartment suffered extensive damage, including a partially collapsed kitchen ceiling. Investigators estimated the damage at several thousand dollars.
When questioned, Box allegedly admitted that investigators would find “user amounts of methamphetamine” in his apartment and said he had been making a “big firework” when the explosion happened. Court records said he also described the apartment as his “little home lab.”
Investigators said two completed homemade improvised explosive devices were later found at the scene, along with chemicals, packaging and materials used to make them.
Box allegedly told the Missouri State Highway Patrol Bomb Squad and the FBI that he had watched online tutorials on how to create IEDs and had been making devices since he was 14.
Investigators also found two used glass pipes that tested positive for methamphetamine and a plate with a crystal-like substance that also tested positive for methamphetamine. Additional pipes, another plate and more of the substance were found during the search.
Authorities also found an AR-15 rifle with no serial number hidden in a false bottom of a hope chest, along with several magazines of ammunition. A 12-gauge shotgun with ammunition was found under a coffee table top.
Box has been charged in Lafayette County with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession, transport, manufacture, repair or sale of an illegal weapon, possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful use of a weapon while possessing a weapon and a felony controlled substance. He is being held at the Lafayette Detention Center without bond.
Police said the situation is contained and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
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