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Five people charged with murder in deadly Northern California fireworks warehouse explosion
Prosecutors say the blast involved illegal fireworks and more than 11 million pounds of explosives over a decade.
- On Thursday, authorities arrested seven individuals in connection with the July 1, 2025, fireworks explosion in Esparto, California, that killed seven people. The suspects face multiple charges, including murder.
- Yolo County Sheriff's Office employees Samuel Machado and his wife, Tammy Machado, owned the property where the unpermitted fireworks business operated. A grand jury report alleged officials knew about illegal operations for at least three years but 'no code enforcement occurred.'
- Devastating Pyrotechnics owner Kenneth Chee was arrested at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida on a fugitive warrant. Chee faces seven counts of murder related to the illegal fireworks stored at the site.
- Craig Cutright, Jack Lee, Gary Chan Jr., and Ronald Botelho III also face charges ranging from murder to conspiracy. Cutright is held on $500,000 bail, while Tammy Machado posted bond.
- The Yolo County District Attorney's Office will announce formal indictments this Friday morning. State officials previously revoked licenses for both companies and issued more than $200,000 in fines for serious regulatory violations.
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Hanford Sentinel+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
Sheriff's lieutenant with million-pound fireworks stash led to deadly blast, prosecutors say
A former Yolo County Sheriff's Office lieutenant is one of five people charged with murder following a fireworks warehouse explosion that killed seven workers in the rural Northern California community of Esparto last summer, authorities said. Samuel Machado is accused…
California fireworks titan arrested at Disney after seven people killed in horror explosion at his illegal factory
A Northern California sheriff lieutenant and the owner of a fireworks company have been arrested and charged with murder following last year’s horrific explosion at an illegal fireworks factory.
·New York, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources190
Leaning Left40Leaning Right10Center104Last UpdatedBias Distribution68% Center
Bias Distribution
- 68% of the sources are Center
68% Center
L 26%
C 68%
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