House Explodes In Rockville, Heard For Miles [UPDATED]

Officials have identified the victim in Friday's massive house explosion in Rockville. 

The body of Steven Martin Beck (61) was located within the rubble in the basement. Near his body was that of a dog.

According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, Beck appears to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officials determined the dog died after also being shot.

The house was in foreclosure and was going on the auction block later that day.

The investigation into the cause of the blast is still underway. The Montgomery County Fire Department is working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

ABC7 EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Neighbor's surveillance video caught the explosion on camera.

Just after 12:30am, there was an explosion heard for miles that leveled a house in Rockville, MD, its occupant still unaccounted for.

The house was located in the 11000 block of Ashley Dr, in the Randolph Hills neighborhood and the debris field damaged many surrounding homes. There were no injuries to neighbors or fire fighters that arrived to control the ensuing blaze.

Over 75 firefighters responded to the situation and the occupant of the house has not been found. Both of the occupant's vehicles were found on the scene.

The cause of the explosion is not known at this time. The Montgomery County Fire Chief does not believe that utilities are to blame even though Washington Gas is on site to help the investigation.

"Washington Gas is working on the property right now," Fire Chief Goldstein said. "That is making the scene safe for our investigators. There is no concern about a gas involvement in this explosion."

Neighbors have said the house was recently foreclosed and was due to be auctioned off at 1:30pm today (Friday, 3/17).


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