Meth Lab Explodes Near Webster, Blasting Caps Found
Posted
John DeGroff-
NORTH WEBSTER - Two area residents were involved over the weekend in what is believed to be a methamphetamine lab explosion.
Kosciusko County Sheriff's Deputies and EMS units responded to 111 EMS W30 Lane, North Webster, Saturday at 6:17 a.m. after receiving a 911 call of a subject burned.
Officers arrived and found Vanessa Renee Newman, 37, suffering from burns to the face and torso area. Newman was airlifted to the St. Joseph Medical Burn Center in Fort Wayne in serious condition.
Officers were advised that a second resident of the house, Brad Lee Niles Sr., 45, had also been burned but had fled the scene. Officers began to search the neighborhood and located Niles at a friend's residence almost an hour later.
Niles also suffered from severe burns to his face and torso area from the meth lab explosion. Niles was also transported to St. Joseph Medical Burn Center but by ambulance due to the adverse snow that hampered air flight.
Both Newman and Niles are listed in serious but stable condition.
Kosciusko County Drug Task Force officers located several "one pot" methamphetamine labs in the basement area where the explosion occurred.
Officers also located three blasting caps at the residence. The South Bend Bomb Squad arrived and secured the items from the residence, later detonating the articles due to their instability.
The owner of the residence, Richard Wayne Barefoot, 54, was at the residence during the explosion but was in another room and was uninjured.
Alcohol Tobacco Firearms agents were contacted due to the blasting caps, and possible federal charges are currently being investigated.
Drug Task Force officers also will forward their investigation this morning to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office for possible meth-related charges against the individuals involved.
