One man dead, another injured after NFL player’s $2M house explodes

A devastating explosion in Mooresville, North Carolina, has claimed the life of one person and left another injured. The incident occurred overnight, reducing a home to rubble. Kent Greene, who serves as the Director of Fire Services and Emergency Management for Iredell, confirmed the tragic event. The deceased has been identified as Robert Matthews Farley, 61, who was residing in the house at the time. The injured individual, Christian Rogers, 25, managed to leave the property before emergency crews arrived and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The explosion took place just before midnight, completely destroying the home owned by NFL cornerback Caleb Farley. Robert Farley, the deceased victim, was Caleb’s father. Caleb was present at the scene with his family. Christian Rogers, the injured victim, is a friend of the homeowner. He suffered a concussion from the blast but is expected to recover.

Multiple agencies, including the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, Troutman Fire, Mooresville Fire, Lake Norman Fire, and Dominion Energy, swiftly responded to the scene. Neighbors reported hearing a loud explosion and detecting the smell of gas. Some residents mentioned that Caleb Farley had only lived in the house for less than a year.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and ATF agents were present at the scene to determine the cause of the explosion. Records indicate that the 6,391-square-foot natural-gas home was listed for just over $2 million in 2022 and was constructed in 2016. Although the circumstances surrounding the explosion have not been officially disclosed, the complete destruction of the house bears similarities to a gas explosion that occurred in Ballantyne in 2019, resulting in one fatality.