Middletown Man Charged With 5 Counts Of Attempted Murder In PA

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — A man from Middletown is accused of trying to kill a Pennsylvania family by cutting a gas line during the night and leaving a device nearby that could start a fire, authorities in Chester County said.

Ryan D. Elliott, 30, of Leonardo, NJ was charged with five counts of Criminal Attempt to commit Criminal Homicide and related charges, said the Chester County District Attorney's Office and West Whiteland Township Police.

This occurred Thursday night, Nov. 12, said police. A member of the household had a Protection From Abuse Order (restraining order) against Elliott at the time.

West Whiteland police spoke to a homeowner in the Whiteland Woods Development in West Whiteland Township just after 5 a.m. on Nov. 12. The homeowner told officers that he awoke to a strong natural gas smell in the residence.

The homeowner told police he checked the basement and found the gas line had been cut. Five family members were inside the residence at the time of the incident. Police reported someone had broken into the home. Investigators found a cut gas line and an "incendiary device" close to where the gas line was cut, meant to ignite a spark or cause an explosion.

Police identified Elliott as the person they believed to be responsible.

Elliott was taken into custody at his home in Leonardo on Friday, Nov. 13 by the U.S. Marshals, New Jersey State Police and Middletown Police. He is being held at the Monmouth County jail and will be extradited to Chester County, PA.

If you have any information about this case, contact West Whiteland Township Det. Scott Pezick at 484-875-6021. This story was originally reported by Marlene Lange of the West Chester, PA Patch site: https://patch.com/pennsylvania...

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