A Pennsylvania man has been arrested after investigators alleged he intentionally blew up a home while his girlfriend and three children were inside.
According to police records, Jacob Rabb, 41, admitted to causing the explosion at the house in Plum, Pennsylvania, in 2022.
Authorities stated that the objectives of the explosion were:
- suicide
- murdering his girlfriend
- murdering his children
The explosion occurred at night
According to reports from the fire department, the explosion occurred around 11:30 PM on April 22, 2022.
The scene showed:
- windows blown out
- the garage door thrown into the street
- the house engulfed in flames
Two neighboring houses were also heavily damaged.
A fire investigator determined the explosion was an intentional act, resulting from gas being released after the gas lines were manually tampered with.
Chilling note
According to investigation records, Rabb's girlfriend later found a handwritten note in a kitchen cabinet that read:
“If I can't have her, no one can. See you all in hell.”
The note also contained a line stating:
“P.S. I blew up the house.”
Children fortunately escaped
At the time of the explosion, the house contained:
- Rabb's girlfriend
- three children aged 2, 6, and 11
The family escaped the burning home. An 11-year-old boy suffered first-degree burns.
Initially, Rabb's girlfriend believed he had helped save the family from the disaster.
Suspect arrested on multiple counts
According to police, Rabb later broke into his girlfriend's home on June 10, 2023, and threatened her with a knife.
He was arrested this week and faces 25 criminal charges, including:
- attempted murder
- arson
- aggravated assault
Rabb is currently being held at the Allegheny County Prison without bail.
The next hearing is scheduled for March 18, 2026.
