Officials said the boyfriend of a wedding guest allegedly blew up the bride’s home in Cicero, Illinois, during her big day.
The explosion in Cicero, nearly eight miles west of Chicago, killed one person and displaced 11 families, according to News10.
“I ran here in my wedding dress, like down the alley, and was watching from a neighbor’s yard,” Eleni Vrettos told WGN9. “Everything was just smoke at that point.”
All family members who resided in the home were attending the ceremony when the explosion occurred. Remains found in the debris at the scene were later identified as Anthony Avila-Puebla, 31, authorities said, News10 reported.
Through an investigation, officials said they found Avila-Puebla had been in a relationship with one of the relatives living in the residence. (RELATED: Wild Video Shows Aftermath Of Massive Explosion In Maryland Suburbs, Leaving Two Dead And Millions In Damages)
Illinois couple’s home explodes on wedding day; authorities say suspect was a guest’s boyfriend https://t.co/Jbt0gDWFqT
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Avila-Puebla was observed in footage parking his vehicle half a block away from the residence, according to police. He was allegedly took a five-gallon jug from his vehicle before entering. He was later allegedly observed exiting the house with the then-empty jug and retrieving more jugs before going back inside.
Authorities said an explosion occurred and Avila-Puebla was not observed exiting the home, Local10 reported. Avila-Puebla was deemed responsible for the blast after investigators determined that the jugs held a flammable substance, according to police.
A nearby structure caught fire due to the explosion and another building was had minor damage, affected 11 units and families, Local10 reported, citing investigators.
Vrettos told WGN9 her four cats and two her mother had were inside the residence.
“They were the perfect little bunch, like they all got along. I thought I would have them for years, they were all much younger, and they were my home I would say. So now I don’t have a home and on top of it, I don’t have them as my home,” she told the outlet. “That’s the most devastating because they’re the ones that give me the comfort through that darkness. My dad passed away a few years ago so we don’t have the home as a remembrance of him, too. It’s a lot to grieve.”
The 32-year-old said she had recently assumed ownership of the residence alongside her brother. The two planned to assist with renovations to lift the burden on their family but since they were in the midst of transferring home insurance, they were not covered when the home exploded.
Authorities have not determined a motive and continue to investigate.
This article was originally published at dailycaller.com
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