Some things that are particularly suspicious:
- Everyone in the targeted household happened to be away during the explosion, including the cat.
- The house had been on the market but was taken off in March. A house worth $230,000 had a sale price of $149,000.
- Owners claimed earlier problems with furnace, smell of gas; mentioned to ex, but no complaint filed with energy company.
- History of bankruptcy/ financial difficulties
- BF has criminal record; criminal connections, maybe
Just speculation: Were the homeowners looking for an insurance settlement on the house? As you said, oceanblue, maybe they underestimated the force of the blast.
What a shame that two innocent, hard-working, much-loved people lost their lives, possibly due to greedy neighbors who only thought of themselves.