Body Found in Rubble May Be Homeowner
By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, March 10, 2000; Page B02
Federal investigators said yesterday that they discovered a charred body and remnants of pipe
bombs in the rubble of a secluded Prince William County home consumed by explosions and
fire on Monday.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms believe the body may be that of
Robert Stephen Fetrow, 56, a former social worker who had lived in the Occoquan Overlook
neighborhood for almost a decade.
The ATF agents and Prince William County police said it might be impossible to determine
exactly what caused the explosions or what Fetrow or anyone else might have intended to do
with the pipe bombs. "We may or may not ever know what happened here," said Sgt. Kim
Chinn, a police spokeswoman.
Police said that they are conducting a background check on Fetrow and that because they have
not yet identified the body in the debris, they have obtained a warrant for his arrest on charges
of manufacturing explosive devices.
Prince William Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Steve Strawderman said authorities are unsure
why the bombs exploded. They might have been intended for some unknown target elsewhere,
he said.
"That's the million-dollar question," Strawderman said.
The fire that erupted after the explosions late Monday afternoon destroyed Fetrow's house, a
shed and a van. Firefighters arriving at the home, at 4980 Poppy Court, saw some of the
explosions and backed away, fearing more would follow.
Debris--some embedded in trees--was scattered as far as 1,000 feet from the home, said Phil
Horbert, ATF national response team supervisor. Remnants of a few pipe bombs with black
powder residue were found on the property, ATF agents said.
The Chevrolet van, a rental, contained the remnants of propane cylinders and gasoline cans
ruptured during the explosions. Horbert said the van contained some explosives, as well.
Pipe bombs generally are unsophisticated devices that can be constructed from instructions
published in books or found on the Internet, Horbert said. ATF agents are investigating what, if
any, triggering devices were present.
Fetrow was living alone, officials said. From 1979 to 1988, he worked in the Fairfax County
Department of Social Services as a coordinator in the adult protective services office. When he
left the agency, he was making $16.06 an hour as a social worker.
In the early 1990s, Fetrow rented out a house he owned on Ashton Street in Alexandria and
later sold it to Edgar Gramajo. Gramajo, who last saw Fetrow in 1995, remembered him as
"easily angered" and "unfriendly."
Neighbors said they barely knew and rarely saw Fetrow. His property was cluttered with "No
Trespassing" signs, and he had posted a "Beware of Dog" alert, though he didn't appear to own
a dog, neighbors said. He often parked two cars across his driveway to block access to his
home, said next-door neighbor Frances Coolbaugh.
"We just saw him in passing," Coolbaugh said. "I waved, and he didn't. He was just different."
Fetrow disconnected his phone in October, and the number was reassigned to a woman in Dale
City. The woman, who asked not to be identified, said that since November she has been getting
phone calls from Fetrow's creditors and family members, trying to determine his whereabouts.
She received the latest such call last week.
Staff writer Michael D. Shear contributed to this report.
© Copyright 2000 The Washington Post Company
By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, March 10, 2000; Page B02
Federal investigators said yesterday that they discovered a charred body and remnants of pipe
bombs in the rubble of a secluded Prince William County home consumed by explosions and
fire on Monday.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms believe the body may be that of
Robert Stephen Fetrow, 56, a former social worker who had lived in the Occoquan Overlook
neighborhood for almost a decade.
The ATF agents and Prince William County police said it might be impossible to determine
exactly what caused the explosions or what Fetrow or anyone else might have intended to do
with the pipe bombs. "We may or may not ever know what happened here," said Sgt. Kim
Chinn, a police spokeswoman.
Police said that they are conducting a background check on Fetrow and that because they have
not yet identified the body in the debris, they have obtained a warrant for his arrest on charges
of manufacturing explosive devices.
Prince William Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Steve Strawderman said authorities are unsure
why the bombs exploded. They might have been intended for some unknown target elsewhere,
he said.
"That's the million-dollar question," Strawderman said.
The fire that erupted after the explosions late Monday afternoon destroyed Fetrow's house, a
shed and a van. Firefighters arriving at the home, at 4980 Poppy Court, saw some of the
explosions and backed away, fearing more would follow.
Debris--some embedded in trees--was scattered as far as 1,000 feet from the home, said Phil
Horbert, ATF national response team supervisor. Remnants of a few pipe bombs with black
powder residue were found on the property, ATF agents said.
The Chevrolet van, a rental, contained the remnants of propane cylinders and gasoline cans
ruptured during the explosions. Horbert said the van contained some explosives, as well.
Pipe bombs generally are unsophisticated devices that can be constructed from instructions
published in books or found on the Internet, Horbert said. ATF agents are investigating what, if
any, triggering devices were present.
Fetrow was living alone, officials said. From 1979 to 1988, he worked in the Fairfax County
Department of Social Services as a coordinator in the adult protective services office. When he
left the agency, he was making $16.06 an hour as a social worker.
In the early 1990s, Fetrow rented out a house he owned on Ashton Street in Alexandria and
later sold it to Edgar Gramajo. Gramajo, who last saw Fetrow in 1995, remembered him as
"easily angered" and "unfriendly."
Neighbors said they barely knew and rarely saw Fetrow. His property was cluttered with "No
Trespassing" signs, and he had posted a "Beware of Dog" alert, though he didn't appear to own
a dog, neighbors said. He often parked two cars across his driveway to block access to his
home, said next-door neighbor Frances Coolbaugh.
"We just saw him in passing," Coolbaugh said. "I waved, and he didn't. He was just different."
Fetrow disconnected his phone in October, and the number was reassigned to a woman in Dale
City. The woman, who asked not to be identified, said that since November she has been getting
phone calls from Fetrow's creditors and family members, trying to determine his whereabouts.
She received the latest such call last week.
Staff writer Michael D. Shear contributed to this report.
© Copyright 2000 The Washington Post Company