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Meth Lab Explosion Leaves Couple Homeless

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By Kesshia Peyton Anchor/Reporter

M50o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr Meth Lab Explosion Leaves Couple Homeless

Published: Wed, April 02, 2008 - 4:13 pm

Kesshia Peyton

As soon as two men get out of the hospital, they're going straight to jail.
Mobile Police say Matthew Byron and Richard Bennett are responsible for blowing up a mobile home on McFarland Road Tuesday night.
Officers say they were operating a meth lab.
Fire crews discovered a propane tank, aerosol cans and ammonia nitrate when they were called to put out the flames.
The home actually belonged to Byron's parents.
They are now homeless.
"I would never do that. I mean, never. I mean that's just crazy. People like that need help," said neighbor Melisa Patras.
Matthew Byron suffered burns to his face, arms, back, chest and head.
Richard Bennet was also burned in the explosion.
Both men were taken to USA Medical Center where they are listed in fair condition.
Police issued warrants for their arrest.

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No question about it,It is better to love someone alive.Giving unconditional love to anyone, doesn’t negate the responsiblity to change a person’s destructive course if at all possible,by what ever means possible.Some times it ends in disaster reguardless of your best efforts,even when you have no other heavy loads on your mind at the time.

Posted by carl on 04/14/08 - 9:25 am • Report Abuse

I have only one question. Is it better to love someone that is alive but in either rehab or if nothing else, jail or maybe one would rather cry at the wake because they had a chance to intervene and choose not to because of “unconditional love”.

Posted by Madcap on 04/14/08 - 9:00 am • Report Abuse

This could not have come,I don’t think,at a worst time for mr. and mrs.Byron.Believe me,Mr.byron’s plate is full with his own crisis when this occurred.I have met the byrons on a number of occasions and they seem to be good oridinary people.I do not know much about matt,but I think the world of their other son and wife and kids,really nice people.Only Matt is responsible for Matt’s actions,no one else. I am sure the byrons still love their son just as much as before. You give your kids unconditional love,even when it hurts bad and as much guidance as they will take,which a lot of times they resent.I hope and pray the Byrons and sons and grand children make it through this and have better times in their future.I have been there and done that and its not been an easy thing to endure. GOD BLESS THEM. Everyone have a nice day.

Posted by carl on 04/14/08 - 8:37 am • Report Abuse

(continued)

At what point does a person just say no? At what point does a person become an enabler merely because they do nothing?

Your cousin’s foolishness could have cost the lives of his elderly parents, a sibling, a neighbor, a kid handing out religious pamphlets. You should all be thankful that did not happen and you should pray that your cousin emerges from this with one small flicker of a conscience!

Posted by BamaBob on 04/05/08 - 9:06 pm • Report Abuse

Your feelings about the cousin are understood and I realize emotions run high when give these circumstances. However, in all reality boundaries have to be set in this life and at time those limitations appear extreme to some. Drug users and abusers become master manipulators very early on and they pull all those around them into the vortex of constant calls from Metro, bail bondsmen and lawyers. They will suck the last dime out of anyone that still cares about them. They will continue their downward spiral as long as their drug infected minds will allow and no one stops them.

The expression you choose to use about “turning their backs” is too broad and has a negative connotation. Is setting limitations “turning your back?” Is protecting your only home “turning your back?” Is refusing to condone certain behavior “turning your back?”

The argument you have put forth is cloaked with emotional buzz words that are designed to evoke an emotional reaction void of common sense.

Posted by BamaBob on 04/05/08 - 9:04 pm • Report Abuse

It seems as though we could beat this horse until it is dead. No matter what I say it will be misconstrued into whatever ones mind wants to believe. I know that my cousin did wrong, and when he is conscious enough to realize what happened, I know that he will feel great pain for the grief he has caused his family. Beyond all of the drugs, there is still a man who needs help. To respond to BamaBob, you would have to be quite naive to think that the family hasn’t tried to help him. I guarantee you that he had never tried this before in his parents home. They along with the rest of the family would have never allowed it. Have you ever heard the phrase, “There is a first time for everything”?

I just wish that everyone would take themselves off the judgement seat. It belongs to Jesus. Despite the wrong that people do to us, God commands us to LOVE! His parents would never turn their back on their son no matter what he has done, just as Jesus will never turn His back on us!!

Posted by Texas Kin on 04/05/08 - 8:25 pm • Report Abuse

ive seen many people on meth, even had a few friends try it. i agree its very hard to get off of, and some of my friends did get off of it after a few months. however, most people dont. the drug changes your whole mindset, changes the way you think, completely takes away any compassion you have for others, all you care about is getting high.

Posted by kctenac16 on 04/04/08 - 8:40 am • Report Abuse

I’m really having a hard time feeling compassion for any of those involved with this situation. It just doesn’t pass the smell test for a variety of reasons.

If my sons had even brought drugs into my home and I learned of it, they would have been out on their ear. If they respected me so little, that they would try to turn my house into a meth lab, I probably would have disowned them.

That is not to say that I would not have done everything possible to get them treatment, if obvious signs of drug abuse were present. But there is a line that can’t be crossed in my world and making my home a drive-thru drug distribution center is one of those lines!

Posted by BamaBob on 04/04/08 - 8:14 am • Report Abuse

as im reading through all of this, i keep asking myself the same question. why do people feel sorry for these GROWN MEN? people make excuses that meth is an addiction and blah blah blah. ENOUGH! thats what is wrong with our country today is people feel sorry for guys like this when they blow themselves up. i do feel bad that the parents lost their home, but in another sense, i dont. im sorry, but you can smell a meth lab from a good distance, so there is no way i beleive that they couldnt smell it from inside the trailer. i understand that they love their son and may not have wanted to call the cops, etc. but now they lost everything they own so in the end, was it really worth not turning their son in?

Posted by kctenac16 on 04/04/08 - 8:07 am • Report Abuse

Texas Kin, I myself know one of these men very well. And after all the time he spent behind bars. He knew better, He just didn’t care anymore and I know for a fact his brother tryed to help him. And I guess the drug was more important huh? You can call it gossip, or what ever. Glenn and Mary sure didn’t deserve to be brought into his living hell. I know my GOD , And he is forgiving. And so am I, I do pray real hard that they get the help they need. To be delivered from the awful addiction. Cause if there is a next time. it may cost them their life, or someone elses.

Posted by bamabythebay on 04/04/08 - 7:45 am • Report Abuse