Pubdate: Sun, 24 Feb 2002 Source: Carthage Press, The (MO) Copyright: 2002 The Carthage Press Contact: http://www.carthagepress.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1731 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) AUTHORITIES CHARGE MAN IN DEATH RELATED TO AMMONIA BLAST OUTSIDE CARTHAGE SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- A Springfield man was charged with murder in the death of another man who was killed when a tank of chemical gas used to make methamphetamine exploded in their car. Prosecutors alleged that because Christopher Clark, 29, was illegally carrying anhydrous ammonia to make meth, he is responsible for the death of Brandon Riffell, 24. When someone dies while a crime is being carried out, prosecutors said the person committing the crime can be charged with felony murder. He was charged with second-degree murder on Wednesday while in the Greene County Jail. Clark had the ingredients for a full meth lab in his Pontiac Firebird on Nov. 26 as he and Riffell traveled down U.S. 71 outside Carthage, authorities said. The equipment included three propane tanks of anhydrous ammonia; the largest tank exploded in the back seat and sent a deadly dose of gas into the small car. As the white cloud of gas filled the car, Clark veered to the side of the road and the two men jumped out, their skin burning, authorities said. When anhydrous ammonia hits the skin, it inflicts a painful, freezing burn. A third of Riffell's body was burned. The moisture-eating gas burned his throat, lungs and eyes. The burns on his left arm and back were the most severe, said Dr. Kenneth Larson of the St. John's Burn Unit. They penetrated all the way through his skin. Riffell underwent several surgeries to remove burned skin before he died Dec. 3. Clark recovered from burns to his legs. After his release from the hospital, he was arrested and taken to the Greene County Jail on unrelated charges from other counties. Riffell's injuries were the worst-case scenario that authorities have preached about for years. Many in law enforcement are applauding the decision to charge Clark with second-degree murder, which carries a maximum punishment of life in prison. ""We hope (methamphetamine users and cooks) do know we are serious about this," said Sgt. Kent Casey of the Missouri Highway Patrol office in Carthage, which investigated the explosion. "But we want them to be serious about it, too." - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager