Pipe Bomb Blast Fatal

Tue., Feb. 21, 1995

From Staff And Wire Reports

A man died, apparently after detonating a pipe bomb, and his housemate was being held for investigation of possessing an explosive device, Mason County officials said.

Roger Schuettke, 21, of Shelton, was found dead early Sunday at the site of a mudslide blocking U.S. 101 north of Hoodsport, Sheriff Steve Whybark said.

Sheriff’s deputies seized fireworks and a pipe bomb or pipe bomb debris, impounded the truck Schuettke had been driving and arrested Alex Travaglione, who shared a house with him on the other side of the slide, Whybark said.

An autopsy Monday showed Schuettke died of a piece of shrapnel that pierced his heart, and burns on a hand and arm indicated he had just detonated a pipe bomb, Coroner Martha Reed said.

Reed said the two men were driving home when they were stopped by the mudslide.

It was not known why the men would have been carrying or detonating a pipe bomb.

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