EDWARDSVILLE – Colton Cissell, a 22-year-old from Troy, was ordered held in the Madison County Jail pending trial after a detention hearing before Judge Hackett in Edwardsville on Tuesday in connection with an April house fire and explosions in Troy that left three people dead.
Cissell is charged with one count of unlawful possession, storage or transfer of explosives material with intent to commit another offense, a Class 1 felony; two counts of involuntary manslaughter of a family member, Class 2 felonies one count of involuntary manslaughter, a Class 3 felony; one count of child endangerment, a Class 3 felony; and one count of unlawful possession, storage or transfer of explosive material, a Class 3 felony.
During the hearing, Assistant State’s Attorney Audrey Paulda argued that a week before the explosion, Cissell told his mother to make sure the Department of Children and Family Services did not go into the garage or his room because “the explosion was in there” and it was illegal to have. Paulda said DCFS was coming to conduct a home check so that a relative could be placed in their custody.
Paulda also argued that after the explosion, police found more than 1,000 pounds of explosives throughout the home, which she said was illegal. She said Cissell received the explosives through the mail.
Because of the explosives found in the home, Paulda argued that if Cissell were released while awaiting trial, he could obtain more explosives and “do it again,” and should remain jailed pending trial.
Attorneys from the Madison County Public Defender’s Office argued that Cissell was severely injured in the explosion and needs medical care that they said the jail cannot provide. They said he was hospitalized for 21 days, including time in the intensive care unit, and needs therapy for burns, daily bandage changes, and medication that he is not receiving in jail.
The defense also argued that the fire department has not released what caused the fire and that Cissell “had no clue” his explosives would kill anyone.
The explosion occurred on April 5 at Cissell’s family home on West Kirsch Road outside of Troy. Three people died from their injuries, including 19-year-old Ayden Hendrickson, 18-year-old Maddie Maxeiner, and 12-year-old Paisley Nishwitz.
Judge Hackett said that because of the severity of the crime, no conditions of release would prevent Cissell from making more explosives.
