Texarkana Man Allegedly Stole Gas Stove, Caused House To Explode
TEXARKANA, Texas–An explosion and fire at a house on Oakhill Road in
February was allegedly caused by a man who stole a gas stove to sell for
scrap.
It was shortly before 9:30 a.m. Feb. 2 when emergency responders were
alerted to the conflagration at 210 Oakhill Road, according to a probable
cause affidavit filed Friday in the criminal case of 27-year-old Traveonta
Ladell Johnson.
Johnson had allegedly been paid $70 to remove the belongings of a former
tenant but made off with the stove and most of a refrigerator, the
affidavit said. Deputy Fire Marshal Jason Hale reportedly determined that
the explosion and flames were the result of the gas being left on and
uncapped after the stove was disconnected from the line.
“The explosion and subsequent fire caused windows and doors to be thrown 40
feet or more from the house, knocked bricks from the house and moved
structural beams,” the affidavit said.
While the stove and refrigerator were missing, the freezer door – with food
still in the door – was found in the front yard.
The residence was a total loss with the home’s value estimated to have been
more than $110,000, the affidavit said.
A woman who was moving out of the house reportedly told investigators she
had given the key to a man with a small white van and trailer and paid him
to remove her personal belongings, not the appliances. Using CashApp
records and a phone number, investigators allegedly determined it was
Johnson the woman had hired.
Johnson allegedly told investigators over the phone that the appliances
were there when he finished moving the woman’s personal items the day
before. He allegedly arranged to meet with investigators the next day but
failed to show as agreed.
Security footage from Tri-State Iron & Metal, a local scrap yard, allegedly
showed a stove and a refrigerator with a missing freezer door being sold
from a trailer on the same day as the fire, the affidavit said. The scrap
company had already “shredded” the stove and refrigerator by the time
investigators came looking for the items.
Johnson has been charged with felony criminal mischief with damages over
$30,000 but less than $150,000.
If convicted, Johnson faces two to ten years in prison and he could be
ordered to pay restitution for the fire-ravaged home.
Johnson is currently being held in the Bowie County jail with bail set at
$75,000. Records show that Johnson was taken into custody last week.
Johnson is being represented by the Bowie County Public Defender’s Office.
The case has been assigned to 5th District Judge Bill Miller.