A Washington state man with a lengthy criminal record is accused of strapping a bomb to the family dog and detonating the device; his reasoning was that the pet had the devil put inside of it by his ex.

KPTV spoke with Skamania County Undersheriff Dave Cox, who said deputies first responded to a report of an explosion at 3:45 a.m.

When they arrived, they found the remains of the dog.

An investigation by deputies showed 45-year-old Christopher Dillingham attached an explosive device to his dog and then blew it up on his property, Cox said.

Dillingham's son and the boy's friend were inside the home at the time, according to court documents. Deputies said the boys slept through the explosion, but were then woken up by Dillingham, who asked them to help him move a couch out of the house.

When deputies arrived, they said various items were strewn across the lawn, including a couch on its side. The boys went to a neighbor's home.



A probable cause document states Dillingham was placed in handcuffs and agreed to talk to officers at the scene. He said he was preparing for "the rapture," according to court documents, and said "the world is going to end" due to a nuclear strike.

The reason he was throwing his possessions onto the lawn was because he believed "the souls of demons" were in the metal items in his house.

Deputies then asked if he blew up his dog, and he said he did. Court documents state he killed the dog because he got it from his ex-girlfriend and he believed she had "put the devil in it."

"Chris was very calm while we talked, but was irrational with his statements," according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Investigators from three agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, found several items of evidence at the scene of the explosion.

Dillingham said he used black powder contained inside fireworks to create the bomb that killed the dog. Court documents say he also fed the dog treats in order to distract it long enough for him to go behind a wall and detonate the bomb.

Dillingham made his first court appearance Monday afternoon. He is charged with possession of an explosive or destructive device with intent to use for unlawful purpose and reckless endangerment.

A prosecutor is still reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident in order to determine whether animal cruelty charges are also warranted.

The charge of cruelty has been dropped because according to authorities, the dog didn't suffer.