'We're not rebuilding here': Ohio police investigate home explosion as hate crime after finding racist graffiti
A house explosion in Ohio is being investigated by state and federal authorities as a hate crime after police found racist graffiti on the home's garage.
Police found an oddly-shaped swastika and and a misspelled racial slur on the homeowner's garage after responding to the incident at around 12:40 a.m. Wednesday.
"When this fire was set, apparently the perpetrator or perpetrators felt the need to write some racial slurs on a nearby garage," Wayne County Sheriff's Office Capt. Doug Hunter said in a Facebook post. "That is what makes this a hate crime. We’ve partnered up with the FBI, the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office, as well as the ATF to do a joint investigation into this incident.
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"We’re going to spare no expense when it comes to calling in resources to track down the individuals that are accountable for this crime."
The homeowners weren't at the house at the time and no injuries were reported, according to police.
According to Hunter, the homeowners were gone because of an electrical fire at the house on July 3. He said law enforcement officers were called to the home "a couple of days ago" because the homeowners reported someone had broken in and caused minor damage.
On Tuesday, a crew from Columbia Gas was called to investigate after contractors with a repair company reported smelling natural gas. Hunter said one of the burners in the house had been left on, filling the house with natural gas; however, the house's pilot light wasn't lit.
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In a statement to USA TODAY, Columbia Gas said it had "made the situation safe."
"We then turned gas off at the meter valve and removed the meter altogether after consulting with the fire department and homeowner," the company said in a statement. "In an effort not to compromise the investigation, we are referring any further questions related to the explosion to local and state authorities."
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Homeowner Angela Frase, who is black, told WKYC-TV in Ohio that she and her husband won't rebuild out of fear of being targeted again.
In an interview with WJW-TV, she said she and her husband had been living in the same home for 23 years without a problem.
"It’s a blessing me and my husband… were not here,” Frase told WJW. "Last night, I got up here, I threw up twice. I woke up this morning thinking maybe this is a dream. It’s gone. Everything we own is gone. I know it can be replaced, but sentimental things, personal things you can’t get back. It’s gone.”
She added, "We decided whatever happens, we're not rebuilding here. We're not coming back. We're done."
A $5,000 reward has been offered for information on the case, WKYC reported.
"It’s totally out of character for Wayne County to have racial crimes like this," Hunter said on Facebook. "Yes, they have happened in the past, but only a handful of times that I’m aware of."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ohio home explosion investigated as hate crime; racist graffiti found
