NTSB releases timeline of explosion at Bristol nursing home – Bucks Round-Up – January 29, 2026
NTSB releases timeline of explosion at Bristol nursing home
Federal investigators have released a preliminary timeline in last month’s deadly explosion at the Bristol Health and Rehab Center. The National Transportation Safety Board reports that staff detected the smell of natural gas hours before the December 23 blast that killed three people. The report details multiple calls to PECO, the identification of a leaking meter valve, and delays in repairs — while noting that the gas odor had spread throughout the building shortly before the explosion. The energy technician contacted dispatch for repair assistance, the report shows, and an Exelon supervisor sent a meter services technician to make the repair, who arrived around 1:20 p.m. The NTSB report pointed out that “both the foreman and the meter services technician were on the job for less than one year in their current duties with Exelon.” The investigation remains ongoing.
DA Joe Kahn holds news conference on triple homicide
Bucks County awoke Tuesday to grim news out of Northampton Township, where prosecutors say a domestic tragedy inside a quiet Churchville neighborhood claimed three lives and ended with a tense, hours-long standoff. District Attorney Joe Khan announced that 55-year-old Kevin Carl Castiglia has been formally arraigned on multiple felony charges, including three counts of criminal homicide, in the brutal killings of his elderly parents and his sister inside their home at 26 Heather Road. Authorities allege Castiglia murdered his parents, Fred, 90, and Judith, 84, as they slept, then later killed his sister, Deborah Castiglia, 53. Police were first alerted Monday afternoon during a well-being check requested by Deborah Castiglia’s boyfriend, who had grown concerned after not hearing from her since Saturday. According to investigators, the boyfriend encountered Kevin Castiglia at the door, where he was threatened with a large chef’s knife before retreating and calling 911. When officers arrived, Castiglia was armed with two knives — one bloodstained — and ultimately barricaded himself in an upstairs bedroom for five hours before being taken into custody by the South Central Emergency Response Team. Inside the home, officers discovered Deborah Castiglia in the kitchen and her parents in their bed. Castiglia later confessed to the killings, authorities said. Bail was denied, and he is being held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility. Prosecutors emphasized the incident was a contained domestic case and posed no ongoing threat to the public. Kahn asked for a moment of silence for the Castiglia family before the news conference started.
School board honors teacher allegedly killed by her brother
The case has sent shockwaves through the Centennial School District, where Deborah Castiglia was a longtime educator. At this week’s school board meeting, district leaders honored her service and legacy. Superintendent Dr. Abram Lucabaugh praised Castiglia’s decades-long commitment to students. “She taught at Klinger Middle School from 1999 to 2018 and then at William Tennant from 2018 until the present in the mathematics department,” he said. She did so with tremendous care and compassion for her students. This was a very tragic event and is very difficult to navigate.“ Lucabaugh also thanked the crisis support teams who are assisting staff and students and credited Deborah Castiglia for her involvement with students outside of the classroom as a volleyball and softball coach.
Joe LeCompte hosts LeCompte in the Morning on WBCB 1490.
