CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) -- Property records show the Dilworth home that exploded and caught fire, which investigators say was intentionally set on May 2, was up for sale, and there were two listings, including one with renderings, for a brand-new home to be built on the property.
The “for sale” sign is still out in front of the Dilworth home that firefighters say was blown up by its owner.
House explosion, 2-alarm fire in south Charlotte was intentionally set: CFD“We were able to manage somehow to escape out of the front of the house because the back of the house was blocked with debris and fire,” said Lawson Caldwell, who, with his husband, owns the home next door.
The explosion and fire demolished the home where it started and damaged the two homes on either side, including Caldwell’s.
“It’s very difficult. We’re trying to find a permanent location for the year, we’ve moved five times in two weeks,” said Caldwell.
Earlier this week, Charlotte Fire announced the homeowner accused of blowing up his home, 41-year-old Michael Barnette, was arrested all the way in Chicago.
Homeowner arrested in Chicago, accused of Dilworth house explosion waives extradition to NC“I think everybody wants to know why,” said Caldwell.
Queen City News uncovered property records that show the home went on the market for $755,000 in January of this year, was withdrawn in March, and then listed again the next day.
On April 16, the seller dropped the price to under $700,000.
At the exact time, the seller also listed a brand-new home build on the same, existing property for $1.7 million.
Both listings were temporarily taken off the market on May 2, the day of the explosion and fire, and then later withdrawn.
Even after the tragedy, Caldwell says there’s no place they’d rather be, right next door in their home, where they’ve been for decades.
“It’s 98 years old, so we’re going to have it restored hopefully in the next year and get back home,” said Caldwell. “To tear it down, I’d have to move somewhere else, and it just didn’t seem right.”
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