A Second Gas Explosion at a home in Detroit 💥 - 1 Dead & 1 Severely Injured

This is the 2nd explosion in a week in the Detroit, MI area. Both the House explosion & apartment explosion were DTE natural gas customers. ATF joins the investigation.

Another horrific explosion has been reported - this time a house explosion in Southgate, Michigan, on Thursday, April 3, 2025, which has resulted in the death of a 37-year-old woman and severe injuries to a 38-year-old man. The explosion, believed to be gas-related, occurred around 5:45 a.m. at a home on the corner of Edison and Burns Streets, causing extensive damage to the property and neighboring homes.

Summary of the Incident

⏰📍Time and Location: The explosion occurred at approximately 5:45 a.m. on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at a residence on the corner of Edison and Burns Streets in Southgate, Michigan.

Amber Benedict & her husband, Paul Benedict

Victims:

Amber Benedict: (37 years old) was found trapped under the rubble and later died from her injuries at Detroit Receiving Hospital.

Paul Benedict: (38 years old), Amber's husband, was thrown from the home and is currently hospitalized with severe burns and injuries.

Damage: The explosion leveled the home and caused significant damage to neighboring properties. Debris was scattered across several blocks, and a couch from the home was found in the bay window of a neighboring house.

Additional Details

🚑🚒Emergency Response:

🧑‍🚒Firefighters and police responded to the scene, and the man was pulled from the front yard by police officers.

⛑️The woman was rescued from the rubble and taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.

🔌DTE Energy was called to the scene to secure the natural gas supply.

🏠Neighboring Homes:

🏡 An adjacent home caught fire, and an elderly couple living there was affected. The woman fell and hit her head but refused medical treatment.

✔️Debris from the explosion damaged several other homes, with windows blown out and debris scattered across the streets.

Community Impact:

✔️The explosion was felt and heard by residents in neighboring communities, including Lincoln Park, Melvindale, and Allen Park.

✔️Southgate Police Detective Sergeant Nathan Mosczynski described the incident as one of the most severe he has seen and urged residents to stay away from the area for safety.

🕵️Investigation:

✔️The cause of the explosion is under investigation, with officials treating it as a gas-related incident.

✔️According to an updated report on Friday, 4/4/2025, the ATF is investigating the incident.

✔️Fire crews and DTE Energy are working to clean up the debris and secure the area.

"It's a very tight-knit community. I know a lot of people felt the explosion for several blocks," said Nathan Moscynski, Detective Sergeant with the Southgate Police Department.~CBS News

The cause of the explosion has not been determined, but officials are investigating it as a gas explosion.

"There was a phone call that was transferred to our main desk where the father of the deceased had spoken to an officer there stated that his daughter thought there may be a gas leak and after the stove was turned on, the house exploded and the phone call went dead," said Detective Sergeant Mosczynski.

DTE sent the following statement in response to the explosion:

"DTE's natural gas pipeline, meter and all other DTE equipment serving the Southgate home was tested and found to be in safe working condition and not the cause of Thursday's incident. Local authorities continue to investigate potential causes of the tragic event.

Our hearts go out to the injured as well as the loved ones of the woman in the Southgate home who succumbed to her injuries earlier today.

DTE urges everyone to learn the steps they should take to help ensure the safe use of natural gas in their homes and understand their role in keeping natural gas safe.

Interior pipes and appliances are owned and maintained by the homeowner.  Even though leaks caused by equipment in the home are a customer's responsibility, always alert DTE. Anyone who smells or suspects a natural gas leak should call 911 and then DTE's leak hotline at 800-947-5000. DTE will help determine if a leak is present, identify the corrective action for the owner to take, and if necessary, shut off service as a safety precaution. Learn more at dteenergy.com/gassafety."

Family and Community Response

Family Grief:

✔️Amber Benedict's sister, Tiffany Gonzalez, described Amber and Paul as "very good people" and expressed her grief over the loss.

✔️Tiffany noted that Amber was talented at decorating and baking and was always there for others.

"I was getting ready to leave for work, and I thought my house exploded," said Jenni Mahoney, who lives one block away from the explosion. "It was so loud, the whole thing shook. I opened the door, and it looked like flurries everywhere. It was all insulation." ~CBS News

✔️Clint Teeters, a neighbor, said he woke up to a loud noise. He walked out to his living room and saw that his front window was blown out.

He said he doesn’t know his neighbors very well. “Hopefully, the neighbors are okay,” he said. ClickonDetroit

Ricardo - neighbor

✔️Ricardo, a neighbor, shared his concerns and the impact the explosion had on the community.

"When I woke up, I heard the boom," said Ricardo, a neighbor of the home. "I panicked because I do care for that lady...it's my neighbor, I do care for them."~ Ricardo / neighbor via WXYZ

Online Reactions:

Related Events

Previous Explosion:

⏰The explosion in Southgate comes just days after another explosion in Detroit, highlighting the potential risks associated with gas-related incidents in the area.

⏰📍There have been multiple explosions in the Detroit area over the years, specifically due to gas leaks.

Conclusion

The Southgate house explosion on April 3, 2025, was a tragic event that resulted in the death of Amber Benedict and severe injuries to her husband, Paul Benedict. The incident caused extensive damage to the property and neighboring homes, and the cause is under investigation. The community is rallying to support the victims' families and ensure the safety of the affected area.

This is a developing story with ongoing investigations, grabbing the attention of national news outlets and the federal authorities at the ATF. This is not normal - no matter how many times it happens. A woman has lost her life.

May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.🙏