Police await lab results in newspaper bombing case

Investigators are awaiting the results of lab tests in the case of a Northern California man who was injured when an explosive device wrapped inside a newspaper exploded.Vacaville Police Lt. Randy Weaver said Tuesday the tests could help identify the chemistry of the device, the triggering mechanism and other details. It exploded March 27 in a neighborhood in Vacaville, about 30 miles west of Sacramento. Jose Sanchez-Zarco, who is 85, was critically injured when he tried to retrieve a newspaper stuffed inside a plastic bag. It was resting on the lawn between his home and a neighbor's.The blast nearly severed his right little finger and injured his leg, arm and side. He was released last week from a Sacramento hospital, but police say he will require physical therapy.

via Police await lab results in newspaper bombing case.

Following the explosion, about 50 homes were evacuated while members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as well as the Travis Air Force Base bomb squad searched the Browns Valley neighborhood for other possible devices and began collecting evidence, which was then sent for analysis at a Walnut Creek laboratory.

According to Helen Dunkel, public information officer for ATF's San Francisco Field Division, on-scene evidence at such incidents is collected with careful attention to the preservation of any possible fingerprints or DNA that may have been left behind by the bomb maker.

She said investigators who respond to the scene of an explosion grid off the area, walking hundreds of feet back and forth looking for any remaining fragments from the device.

"You look high, you look low, you look everywhere," Dunkel said, adding that the trajectory from some explosions can launch fragments onto the roofs of neighboring houses. ...

Vacaville police Sgt. Jeff King said a week-old recording turned over to police by a Bay Area radio station on Tuesday in which a caller to a talk show complains about his elderly neighbor stealing his paper is not connected to the local investigation.

"It has nothing to do with our case," King said of the tape in which the caller threatens to "throw up" in his paper and leave it out for his neighbor to grab. ...

Anyone with information related to the attack is asked to contact the Vacaville Police Department at 449-5200, or call Crime Stoppers and leave an anonymous tip at 644-STOP. Crime Stoppers may pay up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.

via mercurynews

A guy who makes it to 85 years old shouldn't have to deal with this kind of stupid crap. I hope they find the bomber soon. I'll donate to increase the reward leading to a conviction.