D.A. will decide soon on Roper explosion

Shawnee County District Attorney Joan Hamilton has said she would decide soon what action to take on an investigative report of an August explosion outside the home of Brent Phelps-Roper and Shirley Phelps-Roper.

Hamilton said earlier this week she would make some decision on how to handle the case “within the next week or so.”

The explosion was investigated by the Topeka Fire Department with assistance from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. A report on the investigation was forwarded to the distract attorney’s office in late September.

No arrests have been made in connection with the blast, which occurred at 11:20 p.m. Aug. 20 at 3640 S.W. Churchill. Shirley Phelps-Roper is the daughter of Rev. Fred Phelps Sr.

According to the police reports, a van parked at the residence sustained estimated $2,000 damage and a wooden fence sustained $150 damage. No one was injured.