(This story was updated to add new information.)
MASSILLON ‒ Grieving parents Seth and Holly Stutzman believe their son is “in a better place” after his death from a garage explosion that rocked their property and neighborhood.
Trevor Stutzman, a 2025 graduate of Washington High School, died during the Oct. 3 explosion while he was inside the garage at his home in the 200 block of 17th Street NE. He was 19.
“I’m so at peace right now because I know where (Trevor) is at,” Holly Stutzman said about her son on Oct. 6 from her front yard. “I think God prepared us for this, and has a bigger plan for him (in Heaven).”
An official cause of Trevor’s death has not been determined by the Stark County Coroner’s Office, but the agency on Oct. 6 was able positively identify Trevor’s body.
Holly Stutzman said she and her husband, Seth, were having a late lunch in New Philadelphia around 3:30 p.m. Oct. 3 when a neighbor called to say their detached garage behind their home just “blew up.” Her mind immediately turned to Trevor.
“I knew it wasn’t good (when we got the call). It was a freak accident,” Holly Stutzman said while fighting tears.
Trevor worked for himself, according to his mother, doing power-washing and landscaping jobs. She believes he stopped home to pick up some chemicals and supplies stored in the garage for a job.
An official cause of the blast has yet to be determined, according to Massillon Fire Chief Matt Heck, who said Oct. 6 that the ongoing investigation will take weeks to complete.
A statement released on the afternoon of Oct. 6 by the Massillon Police Department said evidence was discovered during the investigation “indicating that modified or disassembled fireworks may have been involved.”
Firefighters were called at 3:18 p.m. Oct. 3 to the Stutzman residence, Heck said. The blaze was under control in less than five minutes. But crews remained at the scene almost five hours.
Trevor’s body was found by firefighters amid a large smoking pile of rubble on fire. No one else was injured, and the garage was destroyed.
The explosion caused minor damage to some surrounding homes, including broken windows, Heck said.
Remembering Trevor Stutzman
Holly Stutzman said her son was a typical teenager with “a strong faith in God.”
“He would help anybody,” she recalled, adding that her son would not hesitate to volunteer at church, help a neighbor with a home project or powerwash a friend’s house at no cost.
Despite being a wonderful son with a generous nature, Trevor did have difficult moments, she said.
“The world was a depressing thing for him sometimes,” she said. “But he was a loyal friend to people. He was sweet and kind-hearted.”
Seth Stutzman said the outreach and prayers by area residents have been a blessing in the days following his son’s death.
“We would be a mess without the community support and well wishes,” he said.
Canton Repository reporter Nancy Molnar contributed information to this story.
Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Massillon teen killed in garage explosion remembered as ‘loving son’ and ‘loyal friend’
Reporting by Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent / The Independent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
