James Sever, a 54-year-old man accused of rigging his former landlord's lawnmower to explode, has been apprehended after nearly two months on the run. According to WTAE, Pennsylvania State Police took Sever into custody without incident Tuesday night while he was riding an e-bike along the Hoodlebug Trail in Indiana County.
The arrest came after an off-duty trooper spotted Sever and alerted authorities, ending a 58-day manhunt that began following a July 20 explosion in Salem Township. Dave Martin, who had evicted Sever for failing to pay rent for three months, was injured when his lawnmower exploded beneath him in what investigators believe was a targeted attack.
Eviction Led To Violent Retaliation
Martin had explicitly forbidden Sever from returning to the property after the eviction, telling him, "You cannot come back on this property." Sever reportedly responded with an ominous threat, saying, "You're going to get yourself hurt."
Nearly a month after this exchange, Martin attempted to start his lawnmower, triggering what he described as a "tremendous explosion" that sent the machine airborne. "It stood up on the nose. My eyeballs have hurt since," Martin recounted, believing the explosion was caused by a bomb deliberately placed by his former tenant.
Following the explosion, state police issued an arrest warrant for Sever on charges of criminal attempted homicide. The incident sparked an extensive search operation in the densely wooded areas of Derry Township, which proved challenging for authorities due to the thick tree canopy hampering aerial search efforts.
Suspicious Fire And Explosive Device
On August 22, while Sever remained at large, Martin's house and Sever's former residence were destroyed in a fire. Investigators have labeled the blaze as suspicious but have not formally charged Sever in connection with the incident.
"We still believe the fire is suspicious in nature. Can we say he's the one that committed that crime right now? We don't have the ability to say that," explained Trooper Steve Limani, a state police spokesman. The investigation into the fire continues as authorities gather evidence and seek information from potential witnesses.
State police did confirm, however, that they believe Sever is connected to an explosive device that prompted bomb squad intervention at a Turnpike toll plaza in Irwin in mid-August. "We believe the device we found over by the turnpike was most likely associated with this whole investigation," Limani stated, describing it as a pipe with enclosed ends.
Community Relief After Weeks Of Fear
The manhunt for Sever consumed substantial police resources, with Trooper Limani noting that "well over a thousand hours" were dedicated to the search. "He terrified a community for half of a summer," Limani added, expressing the department's satisfaction with finally having Sever in custody.
Authorities have reassured the public that they don't believe any additional explosive devices remain hidden in the area. They also have no evidence suggesting Sever received assistance while evading capture during the nearly two-month period he was on the run.
Martin expressed relief following news of Sever's capture, stating, "I'm feeling relief. I'd like to see him stay locked up for a very long time." The landlord had previously feared Sever might return to burn down his house, a concern he had shared with his insurance agent before the August fire.
Sever's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday, September 22, where he will face charges related to the lawnmower explosion. The hearing will mark the beginning of legal proceedings in a case that has kept Westmoreland County residents on edge throughout the summer.
