Three killed in house explosion (UPDATED – HOMICIDE)

Three people were killed Thursday morning in a house explosion in the Flour Bluff area that authorities believe was accidental.

The three bodies found in the rubble had not been identified late Thursday, but police said the three people who lived in the house in the 900 block of Greenbay Drive were the only people unaccounted for by family members. Two others unaccounted for early in the day had been located by Thursday night, police said.

Throughout the day relatives gathered at a nearby house waiting for updates from police.

“I know they’re in there, I know they’re in there, I know they are,” said Joy Mackay, sister of Deletha Baker, who lives in the house. “That Jeep is her boyfriend’s Jeep. He doesn’t drive anywhere unless he’s in his Jeep. I know they’re in there.”

O’Neal Tomlinson, a neighbor down the street, said Baker was caring for her 14-year-old granddaughter, Nostalgia Baker, who was among the missing.

The house exploded about 11:20 a.m. as police officers were leaving another call on the street. Officers rushed to the home, which had its walls blown out and its roof blown off.

A section of roof landed on top of a truck in the driveway, and other items from the home were scattered across the street. Parts of the house were as far away as four blocks and some witnesses said the roof lifted up nearly 50 feet in the air.

Police and fire officials have not determined the cause of the blast but said it appears accidental.

Police Capt. John Houston said no illegal activity had been reported at the house.

Aria Tomlinson, 14, said Nostalgia was one of her best friends.

Thursday afternoon, Aria kept calling Nostalgia’s phone, over and over, hoping she would pick up.

She never did.

Aria said Nostalgia was always a happy person, took up for the underdog and would step up when her friends would get bullied by others. She liked to play kickball and was a very good student and liked to help others, even bringing Aria chicken noodle soup when she was ill.

“When other kids were trying drugs, Nostalgia would try and persuade them to stay away from drugs and stay on the straight path,” Aria said.

And she always looked on the bright side of things.

“Nostalgia would say, ‘Why be sad? Let’s have fun while we can. Life is too short,’ ” Aria said.

“You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s not there,” said Aria, crying.

Kevin White, who lives a street behind the house, saw the roof rocket skyward in an explosion several neighbors said couldn’t have been survived.

“It was higher than the palm trees,” White said. “It blew every brick apart. It was crazy, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Troy Morris, who lives directly in front of house, said there were multiple explosions.

“When I looked, the whole roof was in the air,” Morris said. “Nobody would’ve lived.”

Morris and White ran to see if any of the kids who they normally saw at the home were there.

They only saw the dogs, one of which they got out.

Aria’s mother, O’Neal, said Nostalgia’s grandmother, Deletha Baker, whom she lived with, was known as a child advocate for Flour Bluff area, and was outgoing and concerned about others.

“She would warn me when my daughter was hanging around with the wrong people. She would always say, ‘We’ve got to take care of our kids,’ ” she said, adding the woman also took in kids to care for them.

“This destroys me. There is a family in there,” she said as she looked down the street.

Story By Madelyn Bankhead and Susan McFarland
Corpus Christi Caller-Time

Investigators Announce Home Explosion Was Intentional

Investigators said the home explosion in Flour Bluff was set off intentionally but they’re still not revealing what ignited it.

Now, CCPD’s Homicide Division is closing in on potential suspects.

Investigators analyzed the rubble left behind by Thursday’s home explosion in the 900 block of Greenbay. They said slowly the pieces are coming together.

Family members said Deletha Baker, her granddaughter Nostalgia Baker and Deletha’s boyfriend Jamie Flanigan were killed in the explosion.

“I know that my dad was in his bedroom whenever it happened. Nostalgia was in her room and Deletha was by the front door,” Cory Flanigan, Jamie’s son, said.

On Friday, Cory said police were keeping the family informed on the investigation.

Fire investigators are confident they know what set off Thursday’s home explosion, but their not releasing it yet. Cory said his father had previously had problems with the gas in the house.

Family members said Jamie and Deletha’s son were remodeling the house and turning the back porch into an extra bedroom.

Cory said he was told a propane tank was found next to his father the day of the explosion.

“Did he do it on purpose because he was upset? But then I think no, because he would have left a note or something for us,” Cory said.

Police won’t say how the victims died.

Investigators will confirm they’ve sent lab samples to the state fire marshals office, but won’t say what type. Those results could take a week or two to get back.

“Out of respect to those family members and the victims that were lost, we owe it to them to be as thorough and guarded with our information and make sure we do a good job,” CCPD Lt. Isaac Valencia said.

There will be a memorial service on Wednesday at 1 p.m. for Deletha and Nostalgia at the Maxwell P. Dunn Funeral Home on Morgan.

A relative of the family says the two wished to be cremated.

Story by KRIS-TV