"The man who died after a homemade explosive device detonated Sunday night in Waupaca County was recording a video on his phone when the explosion took place, according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday. Paul A. Casperson, a 44-year-old from Belvidere, Illinois, died after he was struck by shrapnel from the explosion, which was reported shortly before 9 p.m. at E6300 Waupaca County S in the town of Dupont, the complaint says.
Three men — Kenneth Niemer, 42, of Clintonville, Robert Mattes, 37, of New London, and Scott Mattes, 60, of Marion — appeared in court Wednesday in Waupaca County, where they were each charged with homicide by negligent handling of explosives. The three men were released on $25,000 signature bonds...
Niemer told police he had brought the pipe, which he described as a "cannon," to the party. "We dumped shotgun powder in the tube," Niemer told police, according to the criminal complaint. "We lit it once and it just flared up. We did it again, but this time we used some paper toweling and put it in the pipe with a stick." Scott Mattes told police he had also dropped an aerosol can of WD-40 into the pipe the second time, the complaint says."
Waupaca County explosion victim recorded deadly blast on phone, complaint says
Three men — Kenneth Niemer, 42, of Clintonville, Robert Mattes, 37, of New London, and Scott Mattes, 60, of Marion — appeared in court Wednesday in Waupaca County, where they were each charged with homicide by negligent handling of explosives. The three men were released on $25,000 signature bonds...
Niemer told police he had brought the pipe, which he described as a "cannon," to the party. "We dumped shotgun powder in the tube," Niemer told police, according to the criminal complaint. "We lit it once and it just flared up. We did it again, but this time we used some paper toweling and put it in the pipe with a stick." Scott Mattes told police he had also dropped an aerosol can of WD-40 into the pipe the second time, the complaint says."
Waupaca County explosion victim recorded deadly blast on phone, complaint says
