Police identify two critically injured in meth lab explosion

by Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

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Elkhart meth lab explosion: Derek Messimore and Tabitha Mishler

Derek Messimore and Tabitha Mishler (Photos provided)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Oct 16, 2008 at 3:36 PM EST

Story Updated: Oct 16, 2008 at 4:43 PM EST

ELKHART — For the second time in four days, Elkhart Police found a working meth lab within city limits; but this time it exploded, critically burning two people.

Police say 29-year-old Derek Messimore and 31-year-old Tabitha Mishler were burned in the explosion and fire at Mishler’s apartment on 2nd Street in downtown Elkhart just before 5 a.m. Thursday. Both are in critical but stable condition at a Fort Wayne burn center.

Neighbors say the early morning explosion rocked the neighborhood.

"It shook my windows,” Morel Yonkers told WSBT News. “I looked out my window to see what the explosion was.”

Yonkers lives across the street from the apartment complex. He and his wife were asleep when they heard the explosion.

"My wife looked out the window and said, 'I can see flames and smoke,'" Yonkers explained. "At that time I was already on the phone with 911 and the dispatcher asked me how big of an apartment [or] house, what I heard, and I told her there was flames and smoke in the building."

Two other neighbors told WSBT News the explosion also shook their house and windows. They went outside to see what was going on, ran over to the building, went inside and pounded on doors to get the occupants out.

Because of the suspicious nature of the blast, police got a warrant to go inside the apartment unit.

"We were able to get inside the apartment a little bit, we observed what we believed to be remnants and precursors for a meth lab,” said Elkhart Police Lt. Chris Snyder. "We were able to evacuate everybody out of the building and get them set up with the Red Cross."

A special state police team was called in to dismantle what was later confirmed to be a working meth lab. As a precaution, traffic was detoured around the area for a good part of the day.

Doctors say it will be a week before either Mishler or Messimore will be in any condition to talk with police.

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