A 16-year-old Arizona girl is facing a long and painful recovery after a Halloween bonfire erupted in a terrifying explosion, leaving her with severe facial injuries and several other partygoers hurt. Now, a 24-year-old former Eagle Scout has been arrested, and newly released court documents reveal troubling details about what allegedly happened.
Jaidynn Penberthy was celebrating with friends in the desert north of Phoenix on October 30 when a car part allegedly thrown into the flames exploded, sending dangerous debris flying into the crowd.
The blast occurred around 10:30 p.m. near West Saddle Mountain Road and North New River Road, close to Lake Pleasant.
According to Phoenix police, someone threw what investigators believe was a vehicle shock absorber into the bonfire. Minutes later, the object exploded, seriously injuring Jaidynn and several others standing nearby.
Jaidynn was reportedly about 10 feet from the fire when the explosion knocked her unconscious.
Her older brother, Ethan Glass, described the horrifying aftermath.
“There was a lot of blood,” Glass told Arizona’s Family. “It was like a scene out of a horror movie.”
The teenager suffered a broken jaw, multiple facial fractures, missing teeth and burns. Debris from the explosion struck her face, causing extensive damage that required emergency medical treatment.
Friends and strangers rushed to help the injured girl, with some providing first aid while others called 911 and arranged to meet emergency responders.
Jaidynn was eventually airlifted to a burn center, where she underwent facial reconstruction surgery.
Her brother said she initially struggled to speak and communicated with family members by writing. Although she has made progress, she faces additional surgeries, dental procedures and months of recovery.
“She’s been crying a lot just from being in so much pain, and it’s hard to breathe,” Glass said.
Despite everything, he added that his sister is “very thankful that she’s alive.”
The investigation took a major turn November 6 when Phoenix police arrested Samuel Wolf Schnee, 24, in connection with the explosion.
Schnee was booked on three counts of aggravated assault and seven counts of endangerment.
During his initial court appearance, prosecutors alleged that Schnee knowingly placed a potentially dangerous car part into the fire.
But newly released court documents have revealed additional details about how investigators connected him to the incident.
According to Arizona’s Family, detectives initially received information about a Snapchat account allegedly linked to the person responsible.
Investigators then connected the account to a black Chevrolet Silverado with a personalized license plate.
Witnesses described seeing a blond-haired man throw something into the fire before the explosion. One witness reportedly told investigators that the man was laughing and was among the first people to leave the gathering.
Another witness claimed Schnee had acknowledged throwing a shock absorber into the flames.
When detectives questioned Schnee, he reportedly admitted tossing an old piece of aluminum into the fire but maintained that he had taken precautions beforehand.
According to court documents, Schnee said he had drilled holes into the car part to release pressure and chemicals.
Investigators also recovered Snapchat messages in which Schnee allegedly acknowledged throwing an old strut into the flames.
However, Schnee disputed responsibility for the explosion, reportedly claiming he had thrown the object into the fire approximately 45 minutes earlier.
That account differs from investigators’ initial estimate that the explosion occurred three to five minutes after the object was thrown into the flames.
Prosecutor Dawn Sauer described Schnee’s alleged actions as “extremely reckless,” arguing that he knew the car part contained potentially hazardous substances.
His defense attorney, Jerald Schreck, challenged the evidence, arguing that authorities had not conclusively established which object caused the explosion or proven that Schnee was responsible.
The judge rejected the defense’s request to dismiss the allegations at the initial hearing, finding probable cause to proceed.
She pointed to multiple witnesses who identified Schnee as the person who placed a shock absorber in the fire, although she emphasized that whether his actions directly caused the injuries would be a question for trial.
Schreck also highlighted his client’s background as an Eagle Scout and former lifeguard, arguing that he had no criminal history and was not a flight risk.
Prosecutors requested a $75,000 bond, but the judge set bail at $25,000. Schnee subsequently posted bond and was released from custody.
His next court appearance is scheduled for November 13.
Meanwhile, Jaidynn’s family has launched an online fundraiser to help cover mounting medical expenses and the extensive treatment she will need in the months ahead.
Her brother has expressed frustration that an evening intended to be a fun Halloween celebration ended with his younger sister fighting to recover from devastating injuries.
For Jaidynn, the physical and emotional challenges are far from over. But her family remains grateful that she survived an explosion that could have claimed her life.
The criminal case remains ongoing, and Schnee is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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