NEW HARMONY, Utah, Nov. 11, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Officials have identified a man killed Saturday night in the town of New Harmony when an explosive device he was apparently making in a garage detonated.
The deceased is Jordan Joseph Rinehart, 25, said a news release Monday morning from Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
A previous news release Sunday said officials received a report of a traumatic injury on the 400 North block of Harmony Drive at about 8 p.m.
Upon arrival, sheriff’s deputies and medical personnel found a deceased person, later identified as Rinehart.
“The initial information provided by investigators on scene was the victim possibly died as a result of an explosion which occurred in a garage of the residence,” the news release said. “Members of the Washington County Bomb Squad and Washington County Detectives responded to further investigate the explosion leading up to the individual’s death.”
Members of the Bomb Squad were able to clear the residence, locating no additional explosive devices or further threats to the public.
“A man who witnessed the incident stated he and the victim had gone to the farm property to care for horses,” the news release said. “After completing their work, they waited at a secondary residence of the farm property, to call for a ride back home.
“The witness told investigators he was asked to come to the garage area where his acquaintance was working. The individual told the witness he was making an explosive device.”
The witness had turned to walk away, when the device detonated, killing Rinehart. The witness was uninjured and is cooperating with detectives in their investigation.
Although Rinehart was previously known to law enforcement, detectives have not discovered any evidence to indicate an intended target for the device, the news release said.
Gephardt Daily will update this developing story as more details are made available.
