Twin Brothers Charged in Bombing Spree

Caleb and Daniel Tate in photos released by the Chester County district attorney.

When you think of misbehaving college kids who live in the sticks, you probably conjure up images of cow-tipping and the like. But according to the district attorney of Chester County, these two college kids built improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and then blew things up with them.

22-year-old twins Caleb and Daniel Tate of Cochranville have been charged with arson by explosion, arson by possession of explosive devices, conspiracy, theft, and other offenses stemming from a bombing streak in Lancaster and Chester counties last December, when the brothers were on winter break from Belmont University in Tennessee and Pepperdine University in California, respectively.

According to D.A. Tom Hogan, the twins used metal pipes, fuel containers, and propane equipment to construct their IEDs before setting them off in a mailbox and a variety of sheds in Amish country. The explosions occurred between December 20th and December 31st. The below photos will give you an idea of the force of those explosions:

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Pennsylvania State Police led the investigation, eventually finding video that showed the twin brothers stealing the materials for their bombs from area stores, claims Hogan. The Tates also made the rookie mistake of using one of their debit or credit cards to buy parts for the IEDs, and investigators were able to retrieve Daniel Tate’s fingerprint from a piece of tape found at the site of one of the explosions.

“We live in a world where the thought of bombs exploding around us is a very real fear,” said Hogan in a statement. “These defendants brought that fear to our region during a two-week crime spree where they detonated multiple IEDs.”

The brothers are free on $25,000 bail each. Court records show that they were charged with dozens of counts between them of criminal mischief and loitering and prowling at night, among other offenses, in a 2014 case that involved property damage. They eventually entered a guilty plea to one count of disorderly conduct, and the other charges were withdrawn.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 9th.