‘Everybody knew the Mitchells’: Neighbors remember elderly couple killed in house explosion

CRESCENT TOWNSHIP, Penn. (WPXI) - Neighbors are remembering the elderly couple who died when their home in Crescent Township, Pennsylvania exploded Tuesday morning.

The blast completely leveled the home and officials said at least two other homes nearby were also damaged.

“Everybody knew the Mitchells,” neighbor Billie Grey said.

David and Helen Mitchell were identified as the victims of Tuesday morning’s explosion.

“All I just seen was a lot of black smoke,” another neighbor, Arthur Grey, said. “I couldn’t get there to there. Somebody already had it taped off, I couldn’t get up there.”

Neighbors and friends remember the couple as wonderful people, calling their deaths sad and shocking.

“Just devastated. You know, you’ve known these people all your lives since you were kids and knowing someone died this close in that manner is just devastating,” Billie Grey said.

Billie and Arthur Grey have known the Mitchells for decades.

They said the community on Riverview is like a family.

“They were a very loving couple. They would just do anything for anybody. It’ll be bad for a while because they were very well known,” Billie Grey said.

She said her sister was best friends with Helen and was out of town when she told her the news.

“My sister was crying, and she couldn’t quit crying,” Billie Grey said. “She didn’t know what to do. I mean, your best friend gets killed and you’re in Florida and there’s nothing you can do.”

She has a message to family members as they work to navigate this tragedy.

“We are so, so sorry. If they need anything, we are all right here for them,” Billie Grey said.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation, but crews say they found natural gas from a private well and propane at the scene.