Investigators charge man in bonfire blast

Investigators expect the man they say caused a bonfire explosion that seriously burned 14 people to turn himself in today.

Jerry Lee Self Jr., 22, of Millersville, was charged Wednesday with 14 counts of second-degree assault for allegedly tossing a five-gallon gasoline can into a bonfire during a party on Friday at 3901 County Road 621.

Although a warrant was issued for his arrest, Self was not in custody as of late Wednesday. However, a member of his family has assured investigators that he would turn himself in sometime today, said Lt. David James of the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department.

Bond has been set by Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp at $75,000.

One of the victims, Staci Richardson, was to undergo surgery Wednesday in St. Louis for third-degree burns to her legs.

Others seriously injured with second-degree burns include: Jennifer Mesey, Leah Reisenbichler, Kacie Thrower, Kelsey Proffer, Ashley Farmer, Andrew Hecht, Aaron Oberle, Kevin Seabaugh, Jason Walther, Ben Fadler, Chad Reiminger, Jamie Egan and Mindy Ruch.

Self did not tell investigators whether he was injured in the explosion, James said.

Fadler, 19, said he saw Self at the party but did not see him throw the gas can into the fire. Fadler received burns on his neck, face and right hand,

"Everything is healing up," he said. "All the old skin is off. I have to keep medicine on it, but it hurts when the wind hits it."

'Someone to blame'

Fadler was relieved to hear investigators had determined a suspect.

"I just didn't want to see everybody going through all the pain of not having someone to blame for this," he said.

Investigators had previously interviewed Self, but he made no confession of the act, James said.

"Based on our interviews with witnesses, there was some sort of discussion between Self and others as to either him throwing the can in the fire or trying to get someone else to do it," James said. "Ultimately, it was Self who did it."

Witnesses reported being knocked off their feet by the blast and seeing others engulfed in flames after gasoline rained down upon them. Several victims rolled themselves in snow to put out their burning clothes and hair.

No criminal charges have been filed against the bonfire party's hosts: Jonathon Edwards, 19, James McGee, 20, and Tyler Gerlach, 19. They were initially arrested on suspicion of supplying alcohol to minors but were later released by authorities pending possible criminal summonses, Sheriff John Jordan said.

Most of the nearly 100 party guests were underage, and the investigators had a difficult time getting interviews with those afraid of getting into trouble for being at a party where alcohol was served from three kegs of beer.

Prior to the explosion, someone threw shotgun shells and rifle ammunition into the fire to hear them pop or go off, investigators said.

Sheriff's investigators were assisted by officers of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office, James said.

Self also faces an unrelated misdemeanor charge for an alleged conservation violation. In that case, Cape Girardeau attorney Malcolm Montgomery is representing Self. But as of late Wednesday, Montgomery said no decision has been made as to whether he would be representing Self on this new set of charges.

Managing editor Heidi Hall contributed to this report.

mwells@semissourian.com

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