San Ramon Man Charged With 7 Murders In Deadly Esparto Fireworks Explosion

SAN RAMON, CA — A San Ramon optician was arrested and charged with seven counts of murder in connection with an explosion at an illegal fireworks facility in Yolo County that killed seven people last July in Esparto, according to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office.

Kenneth Kin Chee, 48, was arrested at Disney World last week, according to KCRA. He is being held in Florida without bail, and made his first appearance in a Florida courtroom Friday, KCRA said. Six other people, including a sheriff’s lieutenant, were charged.

Chee owned a business called Devastating Pyrotechnics,a pyrotechnics company that provided fireworks for shows. Fireworks from the company were allegedly being stored at the site of the July 1 explosion, which consumed 78 acres and killed seven people. Chee also worked as an optician at Costco, according to reporting from The San Francisco Chronicle.

He is charged with seven counts of murder and at least one charge of conspiracy.

The other defendants include Samuel Machado, Tammy Machado, Jack Y. Lee, Gary Young Chan, Jr., Craig Cutright, and Ronald Botelho III.

SEE ALSO:

• Official Cause Of Death Released For 7 Killed In Esparto Fireworks Facility Explosion
• 7 Bodies Found At CA Fireworks Warehouse That Exploded