Man missing after house explosion in NW Indiana
(Associated Press)

Police officers searched for hours without finding a man after his northwestern Indiana home exploded on the day he faced a court hearing on drunken driving charges.

The Newton County Sheriff's Department didn't immediately have an update Thursday on the search for 56-year-old Rich Wrienga, whose rural house near Lake Village was found blown apart Wednesday morning.

State fire investigator Jeff Roseboom says a propane gas leak caused the explosion but what ignited it wasn't clear. He says Wrienga wasn't in the house when it exploded.

Sheriff's Sgt. Detective Dustin Gary said guns were missing from the house and Wrienga left suicidal notes.

The explosion might have happened about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, but wasn't reported until three hours later when a friend arrived to take Wrienga to court.


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