A blast that shook a quiet cul-de-sac

A home on Rollaway Drive NE in Comstock Park exploded just before 4 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26. The blast destroyed the house. It left one person dead. It left another in critical condition.

The Kent County Sheriff's Office said the explosion was an attempted murder-suicide. Investigators believe the husband intentionally leaked natural gas into the basement. An unknown ignition source triggered the blast.

"This is believed to be a domestic-related situation ... and that the fire was intentionally set, we believe by the husband at this point, intending to be a murder-suicide," Undersheriff Bryan Muir said Tuesday afternoon. (WOODTV)

Two neighbors acted in seconds

The woman inside the home survived only because two neighbors rushed into the burning wreckage.

Tim Johnson and 17-year-old Mandrell Bryant heard the woman yelling for help. They grabbed her arms and pulled her from the flames before firefighters arrived.

Johnson sustained second-degree burns to his head and hand during the rescue.

"I had to get in there and get her out," Johnson told WOODTV. "(The teen and I) grabbed her arms and pulled her out as far as we could."

The woman was treated at the scene. She was taken to the hospital. Authorities listed her in critical condition on Tuesday. A GoFundMe page has been launched to cover her medical costs.

"We are incredibly thankful to the nearby residents that rushed to the (woman's) rescue and were able to pull her from the home," Muir said. "Without their actions, it's likely she would have perished in the fire."

A divorce in the works

News outlets obtained court records showing the couple was in the middle of divorce proceedings. The wife filed for divorce in March 2026. The couple was disputing the division of assets and alimony. Their next court hearing was scheduled for Friday.

Text messages between the couple also pointed to the husband's intentions, according to the sheriff's office.

The body recovered from the rubble is believed to be that of the husband, identified by property and court records as Doug Preston. The sheriff's office did not release names publicly. The Kent County Medical Examiner has not yet confirmed a positive identification.

A blast heard for miles

Nearly 50 people called 911 to report the explosion, according to the sheriff's office. Some callers were miles away from the scene.

Neighbor Chanel Raddatz said the sound was like a bomb dropping. Neighbor Kurt Dutrizac described a fireball and a mushroom cloud rising from the backyard. Debris scattered across the street and into nearby yards.

Steve Huizinga, who lives a few houses down, said he heard two explosions. The first woke him up. A second, smaller blast followed minutes later.

"It was a massive noise, explosion, rumbling," Dutrizac said. "We saw a fireball, kind of mushroom cloud, still rising from the house."

Ring doorbell video from a neighbor captured the moment of the blast. The video shows a bright white flash engulfing the home.

A multi-agency investigation

The investigation is a joint effort. The Kent County Sheriff's Office, Plainfield Township Fire Department, Michigan State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are all on scene.

DTE Energy crews were called to secure the gas lines and make the scene safe for investigators.

Plainfield Township Fire Chief Jeremy Kelly said the blast was unlike anything he has seen in his career. Nearby homes have windows boarded up from the force of the explosion.

Muir told reporters the incident was isolated. He said there were no concerns about gas leaks in the surrounding area.

Anyone with information about the explosion was asked to contact the sheriff's office at (616) 632-6125. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Silent Observer at (616) 774-2345.