Gas has been pegged as the cause of the explosion, but authorities as of late yesterday were investigating the building's owner, Dr. Nicholas Bartha. The 66-year-old physician was the only occupant in the building at the time of the explosion and is a suspect behind the blast.
In published reports yesterday, it was revealed that Bartha had recently sent a peculiar email to his wife stating that he was contemplating suicide. According to an Associated Press report, a police official said that part of the note stated, "You will be transformed from a gold digger to an ash and rubble digger."
It's said that Bartha was despondent because he was facing a $4 million lien in a legal wrangle with his wife. A total of 15 people were injured--five civilians and 10 firefighters.
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