Pennsylvania Man Charged Two Years After Home Explosion That Injured Family

Jacob Rabb, 41, faces multiple charges including attempted criminal homicide and aggravated arson, two years after an explosion decimated his Plum, Pennsylvania home in April 2022. Authorities allege Rabb intentionally caused the blast that involved his then-wife, Laura Petty, and their three young sons, aged 11, 6, and 2, who were all inside the residence at the time. The family miraculously escaped the inferno, though the eldest son sustained first-degree burns. Rabb is currently held without bail in Allegheny County Jail following his preliminary arraignment.

Initial reports from Petty praised Rabb for his heroic actions in saving the family from the collapsing structure, as she was disoriented from the explosion. However, months after the incident, Petty separated from Rabb and later discovered two handwritten notes in a kitchen cabinet. One note allegedly contained the chilling phrase, "If I can't have her no one will or my kids…", while the other explicitly stated, "P.S. I did blow up the house." These notes, along with an alleged admission to his father, form a crucial part of the evidence against him.

Investigators determined that Rabb manually disconnected the home's dryer's gas connection on the day of the explosion, with a nearby furnace likely igniting the released natural gas vapors. A deputy fire marshal concluded that the fire's cause was the result of manual manipulation of a gas line. The arrest brings a long-awaited answer to the community, which has sought clarity on the mysterious explosion for two years. Rabb is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in court next week.