MOON, Pa., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- A Moon, Pa., man has been arrested and charged with causing an explosion that destroyed his home and damaged nine other homes nearby, police said.
Shawn Landa, 47, has been charged with several counts of arson, criminal mischief and causing or risking catastrophe for the Oct. 12 explosion, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
A criminal complaint against Landa said the explosion was a suicide attempt.
It said Landa was "depressed and down on himself" when he broke a gas line that fed gas logs in his basement, and then turned the gas on before falling asleep in a chair upstairs.
"He said that he fell asleep and woke three to four hours later," the complaint says. "At this time, he grabbed a cigarette and lighter. When he struck the lighter, the house blew up."
Investigators said Landa told them he was influenced by a movie about the Hindenburg.
"This gave him the idea to blow up the house," the complaint says.
