PA STATE POLICE NOT CHARGING JAMES SEVER FOR FIRE SET AT HIS FORMER HOME

Pennsylvania State Police are not charging James Sever in connection with a fire at his former home in Westmoreland County.  Sever is accused of trying to kill his landlord by placing a pipe bomb under the man’s lawn tractor after he was evicted from the now-destroyed residence in Salem Township last year.  Trooper Steve Limani says Sever has admitted to the bombing and to making pipe bombs that were found on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but he still claims he did not start the August fire.  There is no direct evidence linking him to the blaze so far, but it was almost certainly intentionally set, according to Limani.  PSP’s fire marshal unit is offering a reward for information that leads to an indictment in the arson case.