Halloween Bonfire: Man charged after shock absorber explosion injures teen
A Phoenix teenager suffered facial fractures and burns when a man allegedly threw a car part into a fire during a party.
By Harper Collins ·
Residents of the desert suburbs of Phoenix often gather for large outdoor celebrations on October 31, but one event turned violent when a mechanical component ignited inside a fire pit. Phoenix police say the incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, November 6, at a private party in the desert.
Jaidynn Penberthy, 16, was standing approximately 10 feet from the fire when the object exploded. Her brother, Ethan Glass, stated that the blast knocked her unconscious and caused severe bleeding. He described the scene as resembling a horror movie, noting that strangers performed lifesaving measures while friends drove her to medical care. One bystander performed chest compressions to restore Penberthy's pulse, which Glass said had stopped for about one minute.
Penberthy sustained a broken jaw, multiple facial fractures, missing teeth, and burns. The debris struck her face directly, impacting her mouth, nose, and cheeks. She was transported by air ambulance to a burn center for facial reconstruction surgery. Glass noted that she remains in pain and requires several additional operations, though he said she is grateful to be alive.
Police identified 24-year-old Samuel Wolf Schnee as the individual who threw the item into the fire. Court records show he was booked on three counts of aggravated assault and seven counts of endangerment. Detectives said multiple partygoers were hit by flying debris, but Penberthy was the only person with serious injuries. A GoFundMe page was established to assist with her medical costs.
Schnee appeared in court on Saturday morning. State prosecutor Dawn Sauer described the act as extremely reckless, noting that Schnee admitted to throwing an old shock absorber into the flames. Sauer said the suspect claimed he drilled holes to release harmful chemicals but knew they were still present inside the component.
Schnee’s attorney, Jerald Schreck, argued that the specific item causing the explosion had not been confirmed and that the state had not reasonably identified Schnee as the thrower. Schreck highlighted that his client had no criminal history, was an Eagle Scout, and served as a lifeguard, arguing he was not a danger to the community. He requested release on his own recognizance.
The judge found probable cause based on testimony from two or three witnesses who identified Schnee. While acknowledging the suspect posed a danger during the incident, the judge did not view him as a current threat. She set a bond at $25,000, a figure between the $75,000 requested by the state and the release sought by the defense. Schnee posted the bond and was released.
