2 arrested in Lafayette hash-oil explosion that burned home

Indiana Cullen Danaher, 30, and Sarah Trujillo, 27, were both arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree arson, reckless endangerment, extraction of marijuana concentrate, cultivating marijuana plants, cruelty to animals, two counts of possession with intent to distribute and a special offender drug charge because the alleged operation was within 1,000 feet of a school.

Trujillo is also facing one additional count of processing or manufacturing marijuana. The special offender charge is a Class 1 drug felony and carries a minimum mandatory prison sentence of eight years with a maximum possible sentence of 32 years.

The arrests follow an investigation into an explosion and fire on Feb. 15 at Trujillo’s house on Modred Road in Lafayette that hospitalized Danaher and one other man, Trujillo’s ex-boyfriend, Pedro Reyes-Huerta, with burns. Trujillo and Reyes-Huerta’s 6-year-old dog, Kibble, also had to be rescued from the house and suffered from smoke inhalation.

According to an arrest affidavit, investigators searching the house found evidence of a marijuana grow operation as well as a hash oil extraction operation. About 50 plants were discovered in the garage and basement of the house, and investigators also recovered more than 3 pounds of marijuana and 1 pound of hash oil. Butane, hydroponic equipment, a scale, a box of cellphones, vape pens and cartridges, and almost $10,000 in cash were also recovered inside the home.

Hash oil is made by running butane or another solvent through a tube filled with dried marijuana clippings, leaving behind an oily liquid that can be solidified by heating the mixture to evaporate the butane.

According to the affidavit, fire investigators believe the explosion was a result of a cloud of butane vapor that formed around the hash oil processing area in the basement, though it is unclear what the ignition source was.

When questioned by police shortly after the incident, Trujillo said she was upstairs at the time of the explosion. She said that while she owns the home, Reyes-Huerta lived in the basement of the home and that she had no knowledge of the marijuana operation.

Police also measured and said the home is about 100 feet away from Justice High School in Lafayette. Both Danaher and Reyes-Huerta were too injured to talk to police at the time, but Danaher’s girlfriend said she had seen the cultivation. Both Danaher and Trujillo are free on $25,000 bond as a court date for a formal filing of charges is determined.

Reyes-Huerta remains hospitalized. Prosecutors could not say if he also would be arrested upon his release. Danaher has no criminal record, according to the affidavit. Trujillo has some traffic offenses and a ticket for a dog at large on her record, according to court documents. This is the second time this month that people have been arrested in connection with a hash-oil explosion. Two men were also booked in connection with a hash-oil explosion in Nederland that injured two people.