Man Who Died With Explosives Committed Suicide

SALIDA, Colo. (AP) — Authorities say a 92-year-old man whose body was found under his southern Colorado home committed suicide, and investigators believe he intended to explode the house at the same time as his death.

Edwin Bartheld's body was found Friday surrounded by explosives under his home in Turret, a ghost town near Salida that has attracted about 50 residents. The coroner's office said Wednesday he died from a single gunshot wound to the throat.

Chaffee County Sheriff's Office investigators believe Bartheld's age, his solitary existence and the possibility that the property could soon be developed against his wishes may have led him to kill himself and try to destroy the home.

Several homemade detonators and a large cache of explosives, including ammonium nitrate, were found around the body.