Photos from inside lab revealed: krqe.com
Scott Daniels
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - New Mexico State Police have blown up the final batch of explosives found inside of a personal laboratory.
The man who built the explosives, had them stored in a shed on his property, much to the surprise of police and his neighbors.
His collection of explosives was so large that it filled two large storage sheds as well as a lab. Everywhere you look: dangerous chemicals and hybrid, experimental explosives.
News 13 received pictures of David O'Keefe's explosives factory. It shows just how precise he was.
O'Keefe had been a scientist for most of his life, working at Sandia National Labs where he specialized in high powered explosives.
O'Keefe passed away in November and left behind a startling surprise for his landlord behind his house located just south of Estancia.
The landlord called the Torrance County Sheriff's Department Friday morning, after walking into O'Keefe's lab.
"When you walk in there you see those type of chemicals, in that quantity, with that type of finished product, it makes you think a little quicker," said Sheriff Heath White.
The Sheriff's Department, along with the FBI, ATF, State Police and National Guard spent four days disarming the explosives.
O'Keefe's family was reluctant to do an interview, but his sister spoke highly of him. She called him a man of "strong character and intellect." She knew of O'Keefe's hobby before he died, saying he would never cause harm to anyone, adding that "he just liked to tinker."
His neighbors, though, had no idea what he'd been doing.
"It's not a safe place anymore to live," said neighbor Theresa Muth.
There was no evidence that he ever tested his explosive creations in the area.
"Our best guess is he was still doing what he enjoyed," said Sheriff White.
Sheriff White said O'Keefe's family has been very cooperative throughout the investigation. He added that if O'Keefe was alive, he wouldn't face criminal charges, but would have had to pay fines for the disposal of the explosives.
