Do you know who murdered Kenneth Breece? In the late afternoon of September 11, 1988, Kenneth Breece, a 43-year-old male employee of Oklahoma Natural Gas, was dispatched to a vacant house at 6110 S. 28th W. Avenue in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to investigate a possible gas leak. An 18-year veteran of the company, this type of call was a routine part of his job. However, on this day, the situation was anything but ordinary.
Burglars had recently broken into the abandoned residence and stolen the gas stove, leaving the gas line open and allowing the house to fill with flammable vapor.
Shortly after Mr. Breece arrived on the scene, the accumulated gas ignited, causing a massive explosion. He was standing outside the home at the time but was struck by the force of the blast. First responders rushed to the scene to find a devastating aftermath and a critically injured utility worker. Kenneth Breece was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of the severe injuries he sustained in the explosion. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his injuries the following day, on September 12, 1988.
The investigation into the incident revealed the reckless act of the burglars who had stolen the stove. Law enforcement determined that their actions directly led to the fatal explosion. The case is considered a homicide, and the unknown individuals responsible could face charges of second-degree murder. Although the act may not have been a premeditated effort to cause harm, the blatant disregard for the potential consequences of leaving an open gas line resulted in a tragic loss of life.
To this day, the case remains unsolved, a cold case in the files of the Tulsa Police Department. The stove was never recovered, and no arrests have ever been made in connection with the death of Kenneth Breece. The identities of the suspect or suspects who committed the burglary that led to the fatal explosion are still unknown. The law enforcement community continues to seek information from the public that might lead to a breakthrough in this long-unresolved case, hoping to bring a measure of justice to the family of the dedicated husband and father of three who lost his life while serving his community.
