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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA Pike County man was arrested by police after they discovered his plan to blow up the county courthouse if he was found guilty in his trial Wednesday.
Kerry A. Thomas, Oakland City, is charged with Class A felony unlawful possession of a destructive device or explosive to kill, injure, or to destroy property; and Class C felony unlawful possession of a destructive device.
The Pike County Sheriff's Department executed a search warrant of Thomas' home Nov. 1 because they believed evidence of the murder of Patrick E. King would be found at Thomas' property. Police were looking for human remains, DNA, a belt buckle, and anything else that may have indicated Thomas was involved in King's murder when they discovered bomb-making materials.
Police found PVC pipe, a blasting cap, detonation cord, a cast booster, and a degraded cast booster. Those materials could be exploded and possibly kill someone by using a household battery, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Allegedly Thomas told at least two people he planned to set off a bomb in the Pike Circuit courtroom to kill himself and others if he was found guilty at the end of his trial on Wednesday. Thomas was on trial for criminal confinement, intimidation, pointing a firearm, and battery stemming from an incident in March, according to the Pike County Clerk's Office.
The court documents don't indicate whether anything related to the King case was found on Thomas' property.
A hearing in Thomas' case is set for Nov. 12.
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