Indiana

Woman impacted by Indianapolis house blast tells of meeting

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — A woman whose Indianapolis home had to be demolished after a neighbor’s house exploded has testified she tried to console her several days later not knowing she might be involved.

Elizabeth Kelley told jurors Thursday she saw Monserrate Shirley crying in a car with Mark Leonard after the explosion that killed two people and damaged or destroyed more than 80 homes. Kelley testified Shirley said she was upset because neighbors were saying “horrible things” about her.

Kelley says she told Shirley she was sorry and asked if she could pray with her.

Shirley has agreed to plead guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit arson and to testify against Leonard and three others. Leonard is being tried on murder, arson and other charges stemming from the 2012 explosion.

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