Mail bomb kills one, injures another

A retired bankruptcy lawyer was killed and his wife injured after a package delivered to their rural US home exploded Monday.

Jon Setzer, 74, was pronounced dead at the scene and 72-year-old Marion Setzer was taken to Vanderbilt University Hospital in a critical condition.

Tennessee Bureau of investigation officials declined to comment on what was in the parcel but ruled out any accidental causes such as gas or electrical malfunction.

"A package was delivered, as far as here or when, I can't give that information," TBI spokeswoman Illana Tate said.

According to a neighbour, Mr Setzer and his wife had gone to the mailbox at about 5pm Monday and returned to the house shortly before the explosion.

The force of the blast blew out windows and damaged several rooms of the couple's Lebanon, Tennessee home.

Police have offered a $8000 reward for any information that leads to a conviction.

Source: The Tennessean
Author: Chloe Ross, Approving editor: Matthew Henry