A man arrested after investigators said they found 14 explosive devices in a safe in a Lebanon County home had more explosive devices in his Lancaster County home, authorities said.
After initially finding the devices Tuesday morning in a Newburg Village home in Millcreek Township about 2 miles west of Womelsdorf, police began searching for Timothy Shaeffer Jr., 40, of Columbia.
Trooper Ethan M. Brownback, public information officer for Troop L, talks to reporters Tuesday in Millcreek Township, Lebanon County, after officials found explosive devices in a home there. (STEVEN HENSHAW – READING EAGLE)
According to a release from Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf:
The DA’s office approved tracking Shaeffer’s cellphone. Law enforcement tracked Shaeffer’s last known address to Lancaster County.
Police pinged Shaeffer’s cellphone to obtain his location, and state police arrested him Tuesday evening in Columbia.
State police on Wednesday obtained a warrant to search Shaeffer’s home.
The FBI and state police found multiple electronics and another remote firing system/device similar to one seized Tuesday. Investigators said the remote detonation device appears compatible with the wiring system found with the explosives in the Millcreek Township residence.
Members of the state police bomb squad confirmed the wiring system found in Millcreek Township was capable of remote detonation and showed sophisticated construction.
After his arrest Tuesday, Shaeffer refused transport to Lebanon County. Authorities took legal action to have Shaeffer transferred Wednesday night to Lebanon County Prison, where he remains.
Shaeffer is charged with weapons of mass destruction, risking a catastrophe and recklessly endangering another person.
According to Graf’s release regarding the Millcreek Township incident:
A female contacted a Berks County police department on Monday to report a potential protection-from-abuse violation by Shaeffer.
While speaking to police, the female indicated Shaeffer had a safe stored at a home in Lebanon County that contained homemade explosive devices.
She produced a remote firing system/device as proof.
She had obtained a temporary PFA order against Shaeffer in Berks.
Berks police shared the information with state police, and troopers immediately responded to the safe’s location in a home at 11 Central Drive.
Investigators determined Shaeffer had left the safe at the residence and had told the resident of the home that the safe contained explosive material.
The state police bomb squad, Forensic Services Unit, SERT Team, and local crime division locked down the surrounding area.
The investigation continued with the help of the FBI and Lebanon County Detective Bureau.
Law enforcement X-rayed the safe and produced an image that showed what appeared to be a self-made bomb device.
Neighbors were notified and evacuated.
The FBI took measures to contain the safe.
In a conversation with police, Shaeffer admitted the safe was his.
The current residents of the home indicated no one touched or opened the safe since Shaeffer had deposited it in her garage.
The state police and FBI bomb squads cracked the safe open and found 14 explosive devices of varying capabilities.
One device had a wiring system that appeared to be compatible with the device given to police by the female.
State police bomb squad members confirmed the wiring system was capable of remote detonation and showed sophisticated construction.
The safe also contained property belonging to Shaeffer.
The DA said the investigation continues and anyone with information about Shaeffer’s prior history and/or his knowledge of explosives is asked to contact the DA’s office at 717-228-4403 or state police at Jonestown at 717-865-5067.
https://www.mcall.com/2025/09/12/more-evidence-found-in-lebanon-county-explosive-device-case/
