NEWS

Woman's car damaged for 2nd time in 3 months by 'bomb-style device'

No one injured, Jeep Grand Cherokee destroyed

Gabrielle Ferreira
gabrielle.ferreira@indystar.com
Interior damage to a car lent to Elaine Haliburton.

When Elaine Haliburton woke up early Sunday morning to the sound of an explosion, she thought someone's house had blown up.

She went outside to see that the explosion had come from her car.

"This is the second time this has happened," she said. "The first time, the car was completely burned."

The explosion, which happened in the 4000 block of Alsace Place, destroyed the front of the Jeep Grand Cherokee that a woman from church had loaned her. One of the front windows of Haliburton's house also blew out from the force of the explosion. The total cost of the property damage is $10,000, according to an IMPD police report.

On September 12 of this year, Haliburton's car exploded. She had only had it for 11 months. There is a blackened area in her driveway where it used to sit.

"I don't think they understand the devastation and hardship. That's my main way of going to work and taking care of the kids," she said. Haliburton lives at the residence with her daughter and two preschool-age grandchildren.

She said they moved into the house last December and started getting visits from former tenants this March. According to Haliburton, the former tenants were looking for drugs. "I think they want me out," she said. "I think they want to get whatever they left in here."

Haliburton says this area isn't a bad neighborhood. "The neighbors all look out for each other."

But after this second explosion, she said she just doesn't feel safe anymore. "If I could leave tonight, I would pack my stuff up and be out of this house."

No one was harmed. The explosion appears to have been caused by a "bomb-style device," according to the police report.

At 3:50 p.m., IMPD spokesman Christopher Wilburn said that the investigation was still ongoing and no suspects have been identified.

"It comes down to, just why?" Haliburton said. "If it's a joke, it's not funny. You are involving innocent people and innocent children."

Star reporter Justin Mack contributed to this story. Follow Gabby Ferreira on Twitter: @Its_GabbyF.