Cops: Man killed in car blast planned explosion

ALLENTOWN, PA. — A man who died with two others in a car blast last weekend had sent letters to family and police indicating he used an explosive to kill himself, his toddler son and adult friend, investigators said Thursday.

“This was an intentional act by Jacob Schmoyer,” Special Agent Don Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said at a news conference.

Schmoyer, 26, sent out the letters the day of the explosion in Allentown that killed him, his 2-year-old son Jonathan “J.J.” Schmoyer and a friend, 66-yearold David Hallman. One letter was delivered Tuesday, the rest on Wednesday, and were dated Sept. 29, Robinson said.

“He was miserable,” Robinson said. “Basically, the four letters described a miserable life, he was unhappy with himself . ... He admitted to a number of criminal acts, and he didn’t think it was going to get any better. There was a lot of hatred there, some directed at Mr. Hallman and some at his son.”

The criminal acts were described as ranging from petty thefts to burglaries.

It wasn’t clear why Schmoyer involved Hallman, but Robinson said Schmoyer “lured” Hallman out to his vehicle on the night of the blast, which scattered debris and body parts over several city blocks.

Schmoyer’s grandmother, Kathleen Pond, told WFMZ she received a letter Wednesday. She did not detail its contents, but said, “I really did believe he would never do this, maybe in my heart I knew he would do it to himself, but never to JJ.”

The three were found dead after the 9:30 p.m. Saturday blast, according to Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim.