Inquiry into blast nearly done

The Topeka Fire Department is wrapping up its investigation into last month’s explosion outside the home of a daughter of the Rev. Fred Phelps Sr.

Fire Department Investigator Jack Alexander said Wednesday he expects to forward reports on the case today or Friday to the Shawnee County district attorney’s office.

That office will decide whether charges will be filed against anyone suspected of causing the explosion.

In a news conference Aug. 24, Phelps identified two men he alleges were responsible for the explosion on Aug. 20.

The fire department, which promised to look into Phelps’ claim, isn’t releasing details about its investigation or saying whether the probe focused on those two men.

The fire department has been investigating the blast for 5 ½ weeks, with help from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
No arrest have been made in the blast, which occurred at 11:20 p.m. Aug. 20 at 3640 S.W. Churchill, outside the home of Brent Roper and Shirley Phelps-Roper, who is a daughter of Phelps.

A 12-passenger van parked at the residence sustained an estimated $1,000 damage, while a wooden fence had an estimated $150 damage, according to police reports. No one was hurt.

Fred Phelps Sr. on Aug. 22 offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible.

He said he subsequently heard from two informants, independent of each other, who identified two men they said had been bragging about having caused the explosion.

Before contacting investigators, Phelps provided the media with names, employment information and other data about the men. He said he hadn’t paid the informants because the reward was dependent upon conviction.