A Michigan husband was killed and his wife suffered catastrophic injuries after an explosion destroyed their suburban home. Police now believe the blast was part of a murder-suicide plot.

Doug Preston, 62, died in the explosion, while his wife of nearly 40 years, Lucy Preston, 61, was pulled alive from the rubble. The blast completely leveled the couple’s home in Plainfield Township, Michigan, around 4 a.m. Tuesday.

The exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

While Alpine Township Fire Chief Jeremy Kelly noted that a natural gas leak may have played a role, Kent County Undersheriff Bryan Muir stated that the incident appears to have been intentional.

“This is believed to be a domestic-related situation … and that the fire was intentionally set, we believe by the husband at this point, intending to be a murder-suicide,” Muir told reporters.

Investigators recovered text messages that support their theory, though they have not released further details.

According to court documents, Lucy had filed for divorce from Doug in March, following previous complaints from Doug about his wife’s alleged “excessive spending.”

The couple was scheduled to appear in court on Friday for a hearing and would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on Sunday. At the time of the explosion, they were under a mutual restraining order that prohibited either party from damaging property, deleting electronic data, or making major financial changes without court approval.

Neighbors described the couple’s relationship as strong until just a few months ago. Lucy had confided in her next-door neighbor of 30 years, Jerry Orent, about her marital problems.

Orent expressed shock at the tragedy, saying, “Nothing is worth killing yourself or killing someone else. If you have a problem, ask for help. There just could have been a better way. How on earth can you think that killing yourself is going to be better than living? There is no choice any longer, there is no fixing it, there is no common sense or logic. Someone made a decision and other people had to pay the penalty and it is downright sad.”

He also described Doug as a careful, methodical person who “doesn’t make mistakes” and was often up early. “It just doesn’t fit,” Orent said.

The explosion was powerful enough to blow out several windows in Orent’s home. He said he felt fortunate to have survived.

Around 50 calls were made to authorities reporting the blast. Neighbors described hearing a massive explosion and seeing a fireball and mushroom cloud rising from the house.

Brave neighbors rushed to the scene to help. Tim Johnson and his 17-year-old neighbor, Mandrell Bryant, pulled Lucy from the wreckage.

“I had to get in there and get her out,” Johnson said. “We grabbed her arms and pulled her out as far as we could.”

Bryant ran to help despite his mother’s warnings. “My mom was telling me, ‘No, you can’t go,’ but I was like, ‘Mom, I see her, she’s right there.’”

Lucy’s body had been blown out of the house by the force of the blast. Doug’s body was recovered around noon. The intense heat significantly slowed recovery efforts.

Lucy, who was honored with the Polish cultural title “Busia Queen” in 2023, suffered catastrophic injuries, including severe fourth-degree burns across much of her body. She is currently on a ventilator and faces a long and painful road of surgeries and rehabilitation.

Lucy founded the charity Busia’s Boutique in 2024, which provides essential items to struggling families. Her friend Marzanna Butryn, who set up a GoFundMe for her, described Lucy as “a caring, selfless person who has always given so much to those around her.”

“She does so much for her community and is always willing to help others however she can,” Butryn wrote. “So many people know and love Lucy for her kindness, generosity, and big heart.”

In October 2024, Lucy had publicly acknowledged that her husband Doug was among those who helped turn her charitable vision into reality.