A house gone. A neighbor's grief. A divorce hearing days away.

Lucy Preston, a Comstock Park resident and founder of a local charity, died Saturday afternoon from injuries sustained in a natural gas explosion that destroyed her home and killed her husband. The Kent County Sheriff's Office confirmed the death on June 2.

The blast occurred just before 4 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, at the couple's two-story home on Rollaway Drive NE near 7 Mile Road NE in Plainfield Township. Authorities say Doug Preston, an electrician, intentionally leaked natural gas into the basement and triggered the explosion in an attempted murder-suicide targeting his wife.

"There was an explosion across the street," a breathless caller told a 911 dispatcher. "The house is gone. It's horrible. It's horrible."

Approximately 50 calls flooded 911 in the minutes after the blast, according to WWMT.

Neighbors pulled her from the rubble

Two neighbors, Tim Johnson and a teenager, rescued Lucy Preston from the burning wreckage, according to the Kent County Sheriff's Office. She was hospitalized with fourth-degree burns and placed on a ventilator.

Jerry Orent, who lived next door to the Prestons for 30 years, said he felt lucky to be alive. His garage was damaged and several windows in his home were blown out by the force of the explosion.

"To just give up everything, I just can't believe it," Orent said. "You just don't blow up your house and wife."

Orent described Doug Preston as kind, compassionate, and deeply religious. He said the couple appeared to have a good relationship until a few months before the explosion.

"From what she was saying to my wife, I guess he said everything but a compliment to her," Orent said. "Anything he said would be mean, nasty or a swear word. That's not Doug either, which surprised me."

Orent said Lucy Preston would come over in the months leading up to the blast to talk about marital problems.

Divorce filing and text messages

Court records show Lucy Preston filed for divorce in March 2026. The couple was scheduled to appear in court on Friday, May 29 for a divorce hearing, just three days after the explosion, according to WWMT.

Investigators say text messages between the couple point to domestic violence and Doug Preston's intent to carry out a murder-suicide, according to Kent County Undersheriff Bryan Muir.

Investigators with the Plainfield Township Fire Department said natural gas was intentionally leaked into the Prestons' basement. The exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation, according to WWMT.

A community reeling

Lucy Preston was known in the area as the founder of a beloved local charity, according to MLive.

"I don't think anything is more important than Lucy right now," Orent said. "Holy cow, she is still alive and she is fighting for her life. He didn't do anything wrong, and now she doesn't even have a home to come home to."

Residents in the Comstock Park area are left to process a tragedy that destroyed a home, killed one person, and took the life of another days later.

"There just could have been a better way, how on earth can you think that killing yourself is going to be better than living," Orent said. "Someone made a decision and other people had to pay the penalty and it is downright sad."

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence, resources are available:

• Safe Haven Ministries 24/7 Hotline: (616) 452-6664
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233