Phoenix explosion: 24-year-old charged after bonfire blast injures teen
Prosecutors say Samuel Wolf Schnee threw a car shock absorber into a fire, leaving Jaidynn Penberthy with facial fractures and burns.
By James Foster ·
A Phoenix man was released on bond following a hearing where a judge found probable cause to charge him with aggravated assault and endangerment. The charges stem from an explosion that occurred during a Halloween party, which left a 16-year-old girl with severe facial injuries.
The incident took place around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, November 6, in a desert location. Police identified Samuel Wolf Schnee, 24, as the individual who threw a car shock absorber into a bonfire. Debris from the resulting blast struck several partygoers, but Jaidynn Penberthy sustained the most serious injuries. Court records indicate Schnee faces three counts of aggravated assault and seven counts of endangerment.
Ethan Glass, Penberthy’s brother, described the scene as chaotic, stating that his sister was standing approximately 10 feet away when the blast rendered her unconscious. He noted that strangers performed lifesaving measures on the scene while friends drove her for medical help. Penberthy suffered a broken jaw, multiple facial fractures, missing teeth, and burns. She was transported to a burn center where she underwent facial reconstruction surgery and requires several additional operations.
State prosecutor Dawn Sauer argued that Schnee’s actions were extremely reckless. Sauer stated that Schnee admitted to throwing an old shock or strut into the fire. According to the prosecutor, Schnee claimed he had drilled holes in the part to release harmful chemicals, indicating he was aware of the contents. Schnee’s attorney, Jerald Schreck, countered that the specific item causing the explosion had not been confirmed and that the state had not reasonably identified his client as the person who threw it.
During the hearing, the judge noted that at least two or three witnesses identified Schnee as the person who placed the shock in the fire. The judge determined that proximate cause, or whether Schnee’s actions directly led to the injuries, would be decided at trial. Schreck requested that the court release Schnee on his own recognizance, citing his history as an Eagle Scout and lifeguard and his lack of prior criminal record. Sauer requested a $75,000 bond.
The judge set the bond at $25,000, acknowledging that Schnee posed a danger at the time of the incident but not currently. Court records show that Schnee posted the bond and was subsequently released. Penberthy remains in recovery, and her brother said she is thankful to be alive despite the pain and difficulty breathing she experiences.
A GoFundMe page has been established to assist with Penberthy’s medical expenses. The judge’s decision on probable cause allows the case to proceed to trial, where the specific dynamics of the explosion and the identity of the thrown object will be further examined.
