other's Little Helper 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
Twenty-one year old Jacob Bell of Fort Wayne, Indiana, died on July 9, 2002 while burning down his mother's home at her request. Yvonne Kantor, Bell's mom was behind on the house payments and about to lose it; her ex-husband and co-homeowner felt the house was worth more to him torched than with his ex-wife and ex-stepson living in it. Ever a dutiful son, Bell was willing to help out. Mother and son packed up their dogs and personal effects, and Bell called Kantor's boyfriend, Donald Staker, and asked him over to help. The two men poured gasoline throughout the one story house and garage, thoughtfully leaving the cans in the house for the Fort Wayne arson squad. Staker then left before Bell started the fire because, as he later explained in his police statement, Bell had used too much gasoline. He told Bell to leave too, but Bell went back in to get a bag. As Staker drove away, the explosion ripped the house apart.
KABOOM!
I nominate mother and son for a Darwin Award.
Sources are listed below. A link is provided to the most recent article.
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/3798267.htm
Published on August 04, 2002, Page 1A, Journal Gazette, The (Fort Wayne, IN)
other arrested on arson charges
Source: Sara Eaton The Journal Gazette
Published on July 20, 2002, Page 1A, Journal Gazette, The (Fort Wayne, IN)
Felony murder charged in fatal fire
Source: Karen Balsley The Journal Gazette
Published on July 9, 2002, Page 1C, Journal Gazette, The (Fort Wayne, IN)
Blaze kills arsonist, police say
Source: Sara Eaton The Journal Gazette
Published on July 8, 2002, Page 1A, News-Sentinel, The (Fort Wayne, IN)
an found dead in house fire
Source: Pamela Perez, pperez@news-sentinel.com
Submitted on 08/06/2002
Submitted by:
Shirin R. de Silva
Reference:
08/04/02 The Journal Gazette
Copyright © 2002 DarwinAwards.com
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