wow - I hadn’t read that about the disintegration of the marriage.
Certainly, anyone who would commit such an unspeakable act would have a few screws loose. Sociopath? Who know? Very likely.
I hadn’t thought about the time and effort that must have gone into designing that “flame thrower”, but you are right.
That would have taken some planning - and testing.
"... like a nuclear bomb went off" or a fuel-air bomb? If there was anyone to rule out as a suspect, I have to think it would be Pardo.
He had a murderous grudge against an area resident, a fuel-air device to test, familiarity with the area, and the requisite lack of regard for human life and the rights of others.