Source to Indy Star: gas release intentional; remote detonation is leading theory

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH/WANE) - WISH-TV in Indianapolis is reporting that two people have been taken into custody in connection to the south side explosion that killed two people on Nov. 10. There have not been any arrests, but investigators have served warrants in connection to the Richmond Hill blast.

Video | Sources said two questioned about explosion

The Indianapolis Star is reporting that officials have said they suspect gas was intentionally released into the home at the epicenter of the explosion; they said a spark caused the initial explosion that  subsequently caused a chain of explosions.

A second source also told The Indianapolis Star that remote detonation is now the leading theory of how the blast was set off.

It wasn't immediately clear who was taken into custody and whether they'll ultimately be arrested or charged. The people were taken into custody at Highland Estates mobile home park on the southwest side of Indianapolis. When Chopper 8 flew over the scene, officers could be seen taking items from the home.

A couple who lives at the mobile home park said  their neighbor had been questioned multiple times about the explosion.  Whitney Essex claims that neighbor came to her door asking if police have asked her about a white van that was seen at his home.

"He was telling me about how they came over and asked me about the white van and if anybody came to my door to talk about the white van, that I never seen it," Essex said.

Police have been looking for a white van which they believe was in the Richmond Hill neighborhood before the explosion.

Essex said she saw a white van outside Leonard's mobile home for several weeks.

"He told me that it was only there for one day and that they moved a tv with it and I obviously know different because it was at his house for two weeks."   

The neighbor who Essex said was taken into custody is Bob Leonard.  The focus of the investigation is the home where Monserrate Shirley and her boyfriend Mark Leonard were living.  The couple and Shirley's 12-year-old daughter were not home at the time of the explosion.  It's unclear if Bob and Mark Leonard are related.

Dozens of home in Richmond Hill were damaged when the explosion hit the neighborhood. On Monday, police and the Marion County Prosecutor's office said they were looking into the explosion as a homicide investigation.

After the statement from investigators, residents of the home at the center of the explosion released a statement reacting to the turn in the investigation.

Check back for updates on this developing story.