Saturday morning, May 22, at approximately 9 a.m., officers from multiple police agencies and fire departments responded to a reported building explosion at 515 N. Line St., Columbia City. IFN file photo

News Release

COLUMBIA CITY — In cooperation with the Whitley County Coroner’s Office and the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Indiana State Police is now able to release the following information related to the building explosion and subsequent death investigation in Columbia City which occurred on May 22, 2021.

Whitley County Coroner’s Office

The Whitley County Coroner, based on DNA testing conducted by the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Regional Laboratory, has confirmed the identity of the deceased victim in the building explosion as Zachery Sparkman, 34, of LaOtto.  The manner and cause of death has not yet been officially released, information which will come from the official autopsy report pending with the Northeast Indiana Forensic Center in Fort Wayne.

 Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office

The Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office investigation has concluded with the following statement:

“We completed the scene examination in Columbia City. We examined all of the natural gas lines in the building and tested them. Several of the connections were found with minor leaks in them, probably from the explosion and fire. A gas valve located along the back wall was examined and revealed the most significant leak in the building. This valve was near the victim’s location. The victim was a known smoker.

No evidence was found indicating a manual intentional manipulation of the buildings natural gas system occurred prior to the explosion. All of the evidence gathered indicates the explosion was caused by an unintentional natural gas leak ignited by an independent ignition source.”

 Indiana State Police

The Indiana State Police investigators have not yet finalized their portion of the death investigation, which is pending the final autopsy report from the Northeast Indiana Forensic Center.

There is no further information available for release.