Shawn Landa Blows Up House After Watching TV Show About Hindenburg: Cops

TV Show About Hindenburg Inspires Man To Blow Up House: Cops

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. (AP) -- Police say a suicidal Pennsylvania man blew up his house after watching a TV show about the Hindenburg, the airship that exploded in 1937.

Forty-seven-year-old Shawn Landa is still recovering from his injuries in the Oct. 12 blast that destroyed his Moon Township home, about 10 miles west of Pittsburgh.

Police on Thursday charged him with arson and related crimes.

They say in court papers that Landa confessed to breaking a natural gas line in his home, expecting that something would ignite it while he took a nap. Police say the blast didn't happen, Landa woke up and he ignited the gas when he lit a cigarette.

Police say Landa was distraught over being unemployed and not having custody of his children. He told police of other recent suicide attempts.

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