Authorities in Pennsylvania have charged Jacob Rabb with intentionally causing a house explosion that nearly killed his family in 2022. The blast destroyed their home in Plum, but all five family members escaped with only minor injuries. Rabb allegedly left notes confessing to the act amid a deteriorating marriage.
On April 22, 2022, at around 11 p.m., an explosion rocked the home of Jacob Rabb and Laura Petty on Hialeah Drive in Plum, Pennsylvania, an Allegheny County borough east of Pittsburgh. The family, which included their three sons aged 11, 6, and 2, was inside at the time. Petty, then 31, later recounted waking up disoriented with the roof collapsed on her bed. She initially praised her husband for his role in the escape, telling the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "If it wasn't for Jake, we wouldn't have made it out." She added, "He was the one running around making sure we all got out safe."
The 11-year-old boy sustained first-degree burns, but the rest of the family emerged unharmed as the house was completely destroyed. Neighbors expressed shock, with one telling WTAE they had waited years for answers about the cause.
Investigators now allege that Rabb, 41, manually disconnected the gas line to the home's dryer, allowing natural gas vapors to accumulate. A nearby furnace ignited the fumes, according to a deputy fire marshal's determination reported by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Months after the incident, Petty separated from Rabb and obtained a protection-from-abuse order. While cleaning, she discovered two handwritten notes allegedly written by him. One read in part, "If I can't have her no one will or my kids…" The other stated, "P.S. I did blow up the house."
Rabb's father reportedly told police that his son confessed to causing the explosion, though Rabb denied admitting it to Petty. Authorities arrested Rabb this week, filing charges including four counts each of attempted criminal homicide, aggravated arson, and arson endangering persons; two counts of arson endangering property; and arson causing or risking catastrophe. He is held without bail in Allegheny County Jail and had a preliminary arraignment on Tuesday, with a hearing scheduled in a week.
