VSP: Fayston man’s homemade explosive injured self and other
June 28, 2024 | By Eric Blaisdell | Times Argus staff writer BARRE — A Fayston man is facing criminal charges after police say a homemade explosive of his blew up and injured him and another man.
Joseph D. Heim, 47, pleaded not guilty Thursday in Washington County criminal court in Barre to felony counts of manufacturing a destructive device and possession of explosives, as well as misdemeanor counts of unlawful trespass and reckless endangerment.
If convicted, Heim faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on the two felony counts because the state has charged Heim as a habitual offender for his nine reported prior felony convictions.
Washington County State’s Attorney Michelle Donnelly asked that Heim be held without bail while the case is pending. Judge John Pacht reserved a decision on the state’s motion until a weight-of-the-evidence hearing can be held.
The judge released Heim after Heim posted $2,500 bail. Heim was released to the custody of his romantic partner, who will act as a responsible adult for Heim and could face her own charges if she doesn’t report violations of Heim’s conditions of release.
Trooper Vienna Gildea, of the Vermont State Police, said in her affidavit she was told on June 19 about a possible incident involving explosives on Phen Basin Road in Fayston. Gildea, a member of the State Police Bomb Squad, responded to the scene.
She said a neighbor called police June 18 to report hearing three explosions and then saw ambulances on the road. Gildea said the witness reported the noise came from a vacant lot because he saw smoke coming from that lot. The trooper noted the property has “no trespassing” signs on it, as well as signs stating “private property” and “keep out.”
Gildea said another witness reported seeing two males leave the property after the explosions. She said the witness recognized one of the males as a person who lives at the Heim residence on Farm Road.
The trooper said the witness reported he was told one of the males “blew their hand off” and the other suffered a chest wound. In court Thursday, Donnelly noted the victim in the case spent a week in the hospital and lost three fingers.
Gildea said she saw what appeared to be blood on a chain that crossed a trail on the property. The trooper said she found more blood on leaves along the path.
She said she found a spot on the property with a large amount of suspected blood, as well as “pieces of flesh,” gray powder and a hobby fuse with hot glue on it.
Gildea said after collecting evidence at the scene, investigators went to the Heim residence, which is less than a mile away. The trooper said she saw a large amount of suspected blood outside the home.
Gildea said no one answered the door at the home. She said a neighbor reported Heim lived at the home, which is owned by Heim’s father.
While leaving the neighbor’s home, Gildea said she saw Heim’s romantic partner leave Heim’s home through the garage. The partner told police she lived at the home and reported Heim had suffered non-life threatening injuries to his chest and was receiving treatment at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, according to court records.
Gildea said the partner reported Heim and the victim “were doing fireworks” when the victim lost multiple fingers. She said the partner reported she didn’t know what Heim had for fireworks because she didn’t ask and didn’t want to know because she doesn’t like fireworks.
Gildea said the victim was interviewed at University of Vermont Medical Center. She said the victim reported he was in a relationship with Heim’s daughter.
The trooper said the victim reported he and Heim do not have a good relationship, and Heim has “threatened to blow his head off on multiple occasions for various reasons.” She said the victim reported he was trying to “bond” with Heim when he accompanied Heim with setting off explosives. The victim reported Heim’s interest in explosives started about a month ago, according to court records.
Gildea said the victim reported Heim came up from the basement carrying a small bucket with six explosives. The trooper said the victim reported Heim had recently purchased waterproof fuses and wanted to test them. Gildea said a photo of one of the devices showed it was made out of a cardboard tube with a fuse coming out of the top and the two ends had hot glue on them. The trooper said the photo showed Heim holding a roll of black tape and noted such tape was found at the scene where the explosion occurred.
Gildea said the victim reported he saw Heim light two of the devices. The victim reported Heim attached one of the explosives to a frog and blew it up, according to court records.
The trooper said the victim reported Heim handed him an explosive and told him to light it. The victim reported as soon as he lit the fuse, there was an explosion, according to court records.
Gildea said the victim reported he and Heim returned to their home and Heim told him they needed to “get their story straight” that they were lighting fireworks.
The trooper said witnesses reported Heim had been buying items online to create the explosive devices and reported he had to change suppliers because a supplier asked him to provide identification before buying the items. Gildea said the witnesses reported Heim had been making the devices in the basement.
She said the victim reported he and Heim set off other devices in the weeks leading up to this incident, including at a home in South Hero, where the explosion lifted a dock out of the water.
Gildea said police executed a search warrant at Heim’s home on June 20. She said during the search, police seized bulk fireworks, bulk black and white powders and a hobby fuse. She said the powders were tested and found to be ingredients for explosives.