Mom Of Arson Suspect At Pennsylvania Gov’s Home Said She Called About Son’s Mental Health | EUROtoday

The mom of a person accused of setting fireplace to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion mentioned she made calls about her son’s psychological well being earlier than the arson, however that “nobody would help.”

Cody Balmer, 38, was arrested Sunday and is accused of firebombing the residence of Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) earlier that morning. Police mentioned Balmer scaled the mansion’s iron safety fence, evaded officers who grew to become conscious of the breach and set fireplace to the residence utilizing beer bottles stuffed with gasoline to make Molotov cocktails.

Shapiro, his spouse and their 4 kids weren’t on the residence on the time, however had stayed there the evening earlier than to rejoice the Jewish vacation of Passover. Balmer turned himself in to authorities, and mentioned he had deliberate to beat Shapiro with a sledgehammer he had discovered, in response to courtroom paperwork.

Balmer instructed state police he was “harboring a hatred towards Governor Shapiro,” in response to his charging paperwork. But at a information conventionShapiro careworn a full motive hasn’t turn into clear but.

“We don’t know the person’s specific motive yet,” Shapiro mentioned. “But we do know a few truths. First: This type of violence is not OK. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society. And I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another or one particular person or another. It is not OK, and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.”

The suspect’s mom, Christie Balmer, instructed The Associated Press on Monday that her son had stopped taking an unspecified remedy, and that she had made calls days earlier than the arson about his psychological well being points, however that “nobody would help.”

At his arraignment listening to on Monday, Cody Balmer instructed a decide he didn’t have a psychological sickness, saying that was a “rumor.” He added that “medication led me to different kinds of behaviors.”

Balmer, who has beforehand been charged for home violence towards his children and their mother, was denied bail. His subsequent courtroom date is April 23.