Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Pierceton man arrested in connection with a Vermont murder will appear in U.S. District Court in Fort Wayne at 4:30 p.m. today for an initial hearing.
Chris William Dean, 35, of 3175 S. CR 600E, is charged in the bombing death of Christopher Marquis, 17, of Fair Haven, Vt.
The bomb exploded Thursday when Marquis opened a package delivered to him by United Parcel Service. His mother, Sheila Rockwell, 52, who was with him in the bedroom at the time, suffered serious injuries to her torso and leg, and lost part of her hand in the blast.
Dean was arrested Friday at his daughter's home in Winona Lake on a federal arrest warrant and is being held without bond. Dean is charged with the interstate transportation of an explosive device that was used to kill and injure and with placing an explosive device aboard an aircraft knowing it could endanger the safety of the aircraft. If convicted, Dean could face the death penalty.
A federal affidavit alleges Dean believed Marquis defrauded him in an Internet deal to sell Dean citizen's band radio equipment. The affidavit said a Dean acquaintance told officials Dean said he 'was going to send the guy a package in the mail and, boy, is he going to be surprised.'
The affidavit also stated the package containing the bomb was sent to Marquis from Mansfield, Ohio, March 18, via UPS next day air delivery. Records from Dean's employer reportedly show that Dean, a truck driver, was present in Mansfield the day the package was sent. Dean allegedly learned how to make the bomb through information on the Internet.
Rockwell allegedly told investigators from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the FBI that Marquis had received threats from Dean over the Internet deal.
FBI agents spent Sunday interviewing people who knew Dean in and around Pierceton.
