Feds probe evicted tenant after bomb explodes under landlord's lawnmower

SALEM TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A Pennsylvania landlord narrowly escaped serious injury when his lawn mower exploded moments after he started it — and investigators now suspect foul play, pointing to a former tenant he evicted last month.

David Martin reported the blast to authorities around 4:30 p.m. on July 20, after the lawn mower suddenly detonated at his rental property in the 7900 block of Salem Township, Westmoreland County, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Martin told police he had just begun routine maintenance work on the property and had fueled up his Club Cadet zero-turn mower before starting it. He said he let the engine idle for about ten seconds before moving forward — when a powerful blast erupted beneath him.

“A loud explosion occurred, jolting him forward,” the affidavit quoted Martin as saying. He immediately jumped off and fled the area.

The explosion prompted a multi-agency investigation involving local police, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Authorities quickly turned their attention to 54-year-old James Sever, a former tenant who had been evicted from the same property on June 3.

According to the affidavit, a state trooper had encountered Sever at the property on June 11, when Sever allegedly returned after his eviction and made threats against Martin.

Martin told investigators he hadn’t visited the property or used the mower in three days prior to the explosion. He had arrived about 30 minutes before the incident to begin maintenance work.

He first entered the garage bay, filled the mower’s gas tank, then started it and sat down. The explosion occurred just as he engaged the handles to move forward, suggesting the device had been tampered with in advance.

Authorities have not disclosed what type of explosive device may have been used or whether Sever has been taken into custody.

The blast remains under investigation as officials work to determine how the explosive was placed and who was responsible.

The landlord was not injured in the explosion, but investigators believe the timing of the device suggests a deliberate attempt to harm him.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.