Dad, stepmom knew their son was working with explosives at home before deadly blast killed 3 people: Police
A devastating house explosion in Troy, Illinois, that claimed the lives of three people and destroyed a family home has resulted in multiple criminal charges against a father, stepmother, and their adult son. Authorities allege that the parents knew their son was manufacturing and storing explosive materials inside the residence before the catastrophic blast occurred.
The explosion, which happened on April 5, 2026, sparked a lengthy investigation involving local, state, and federal agencies. Nearly two months later, prosecutors announced charges against three members of the Cissell family, alleging that dangerous explosive-making activities inside the home directly led to the tragedy.
Fatal Explosion Rocks Troy Community
The explosion occurred at a residence located on West Kirsch Road in unincorporated Troy, Illinois. Emergency responders were dispatched after reports of a massive blast followed by a fire.
The force of the explosion completely destroyed the home and resulted in the deaths of three individuals who were inside the residence at the time.
The victims were identified as:
- Ayden Hendrickson, 19
- Madeleine Maxeiner (also identified in some reports as Madeleine Cissell), 18
- Paisley Nishwitz, 12
Investigators believe the victims were asleep when the explosion occurred.
A fourth individual survived but suffered severe burns and injuries requiring hospitalization.
Criminal Charges Announced
Following an extensive investigation, the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office announced criminal charges against three members of the Cissell family.
Charges Against Colton Cissell
Colton K. Cissell, 22, faces the most serious allegations.
Prosecutors charged him with:
- Three counts of involuntary manslaughter
- Endangering the life or health of a child
- Possession of explosives
- Possession of explosive material without a license
- Additional felony charges related to the manufacture and storage of explosive materials
According to prosecutors, Colton was allegedly manufacturing and possessing explosive materials inside the home. Authorities contend that these activities directly caused the explosion that killed the three victims.
After the blast, Colton suffered injuries but survived. He was airlifted to a hospital and later interviewed by investigators.
Charges Against Kenneth and Roberta Cissell
Authorities also charged:
- Kenneth Cissell, 48
- Roberta Cissell, 43
Both were charged with endangering the life or health of a child.
Prosecutors allege that the couple knowingly allowed explosive materials and explosive-making activities to occur inside the residence. Investigators believe their actions contributed to conditions that led to the deadly explosion.
The child-endangerment charges specifically reference the death of 12-year-old Paisley Nishwitz.
Following their arrests, Kenneth and Roberta were booked into jail and later released.
What Investigators Discovered
Court records and search warrants revealed extensive evidence suggesting explosive materials had been stored and handled at the property long before the explosion occurred.
Investigators reportedly found:
- Containers marked as energetic materials
- Precursors used to create explosive compounds
- Possible explosive-making materials in vehicles on the property
- Cardboard tubes commonly associated with pyrotechnic construction
- Materials connected to the production of homemade explosives
Authorities also conducted controlled detonations of certain materials recovered from the scene because of safety concerns.
Parents Allegedly Knew About Explosive Activities
One of the most significant findings in the investigation centers on what Kenneth and Roberta Cissell allegedly knew before the explosion.
According to court documents, both parents told investigators they were aware that Colton had been making explosives.
Police said the couple acknowledged that Colton created Tannerite-based explosive devices.
Tannerite is a commercially available binary explosive target material that can become highly dangerous if improperly handled, stored, or modified.
Investigators also learned that Colton was involved with a fireworks-manufacturing club.
Authorities allege the parents knew explosive materials were being stored and handled inside the residence yet allowed the activity to continue.
Statements Made to Investigators
After the explosion, Kenneth and Roberta reportedly told authorities they were inside a bedroom when they heard a loud boom.
According to investigators:
- The couple escaped through a bedroom window.
- The house immediately caught fire after the explosion.
- They found Colton outside suffering from severe burns and injuries.
The statements became part of the broader investigation into what family members knew regarding explosive materials at the property.
Colton’s Alleged Admission
While recovering in the hospital, Colton was interviewed by law enforcement officers.
According to reports, he admitted to using a laser cutter in proximity to explosive materials.
Investigators have not publicly detailed whether the laser cutter directly triggered the explosion. However, the alleged admission became an important part of the case as authorities attempted to reconstruct the events leading to the blast.
The Victims
The tragedy claimed the lives of three young people.
Ayden Hendrickson
Ayden Hendrickson, 19, was among those killed in the explosion. Reports identified him as the boyfriend of Madeleine Maxeiner.
Madeleine Maxeiner
Madeleine Maxeiner, 18, also died in the blast. Some reports identified her as Madeleine Cissell.
According to local reporting, she was the daughter of Roberta Cissell.
Paisley Nishwitz
Paisley Nishwitz, 12, was the youngest victim.
Reports indicated that she was under the short-term guardianship of Kenneth Cissell at the time of her death.
Her death became a central element in the child-endangerment charges filed against Kenneth and Roberta.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed
Separate from the criminal case, legal action has also been initiated in civil court.
According to reports, Madeleine’s biological father filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
The lawsuit names:
- Members of the Cissell family
- The owner of the property where the family was living
The civil case seeks accountability for the circumstances that allegedly led to Madeleine’s death.
Massive Multi-Agency Investigation
The investigation involved numerous agencies due to the complexity of the explosion and the presence of explosive materials.
Participating agencies included:
- Madison County Sheriff’s Office
- Illinois Secretary of State Bomb Squad
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
- Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office
- Madison County Coroner’s Office
- Troy Police Department
- Troy Fire Protection District
- Additional regional fire departments
Authorities spent weeks collecting evidence, analyzing debris, and determining the source of the blast.
Prosecutors Emphasize Seriousness of Case
Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine described the explosion as a tragedy that deeply affected the community.
Prosecutors stated that the evidence gathered during the investigation indicated conduct that allegedly created an extreme danger to others and ultimately resulted in multiple deaths.
Officials stressed that the criminal charges followed a thorough review of evidence and investigative findings.
Presumption of Innocence
While criminal charges have been filed, all three defendants remain presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Court proceedings are expected to determine whether prosecutors can establish that the alleged manufacture and storage of explosive materials inside the home directly caused the deadly explosion.
The case remains one of the most significant and tragic explosion investigations in Illinois in recent years, with authorities alleging that warnings and knowledge of dangerous explosive activity existed inside the home long before the blast that killed three people and devastated an entire community.
