New Milford, CT- Man Killed By Exploding Beer Keg

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The life of Sean M. Caselli, the 22-year-old New Milford native killed in a freak accident at a pig roast last weekend, is being celebrated today at 10 a.m. in a mass at St. Francis Xavier Church in New Milford.

Burial, according to a release from the Lillis Funeral Home, will be private. Mr. Caselli, a former state wrestling champion and budding entrepreneur, died at 187 Aspetuck Ridge Rd. following the explosion of a beer keg that, according to witnesses, had been left in a fire in a barrel lit to keep the partygoers warm.

"We still have people we need to interview, and then everything will go the prosecutor to determine whether charges will be filed," said New Milford police Lieut. James Duda Tuesday, confirming that the person who put the keg in the fire had been identified, although he declined to release the person's name.

The party, which was an annual event, was hosted by Matthew Johnson, who operates a local tree service, at the home of his mother, former Board of Education chairman Alexandra Thomas and her husband, Terry, who own a wilderness camp. The party took place in an area behind Ms. Thomas' secluded Merryall house.

The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Monday that the cause of Mr. Caselli's death was blunt traumatic neck and chest injury, with the office ruling the manner of death an accident. Seven other partygoers were treated for non-life threatening injuries that consisted of burns and shrapnel wounds at New Milford and Danbury hospitals and released. Mr. Caselli was struck by a piece of flying shrapnel in the neck, according to the police.

"This is a certain tragedy," said New Milford Police Chief Colin D. McCormack. Members of the police department arrived at the scene at 3:31 a.m. Sunday, along with the Water Witch Hose Company #2, the Northville Volunteer Fire Department, New Milford Ambulance and ambulances from Bridgewater, Washington, Brookfield and Kent, according to police reports.

After the incident, a State Police helicopter circled above the heavily wooded area, using its thermal imaging to check for any additional persons that may have been injured.

News of the event, which went out on the Associated Press wire, was picked up by newspapers as far as Minneapolis. In Broad Brook, Conn., Jim Willenbacher, president of Crossfire Engineering Inc., a family-owned business that sells beer and soda products, commented on the action that led to Mr. Caselli's death.

"Usually those things that have liquid in them, or even air; they're not designed to be thrown into fire," he said. "They're a stainless steel barrel," he said, noting that, as the beer is withdrawn from a keg, the barrel fills with air or carbon dioxide. "It doesn't make much difference," he said of whichever gas fills the keg. "They'll both blow up. We've seen it happen before with aerosol cans."

While expressing his sympathy for those affected by the tragedy that resulted from the explosion, he remarked, "They did a very stupid thing, and they paid a price. How can you warn someone about everything in the world?"

"It's just a horrible thing," said Mayor Pat Murphy. "I think it will alter the behavior of parents," she said, while conceding that those who attended the party were, to her knowledge on Monday, not minors.

"Sean was a quality individual. He was a sharing, caring, loving person," said Daryl Daniels, who coached Mr. Caselli in wrestling at the New Milford High School. "He was a state champion," Mr. Daniels said, noting that Mr. Caselli had served as captain of the 2002 wrestling team. "He had to motivate fellow athletes and see that everybody came to practice on time. We rely on our captains a lot."

"He was a hardworking, dedicated individual. He represented New Milford and New Milford wrestling very well. His character was great. That showed in the fact that had built himself a business with over 40 accounts," he continued, referring to Mr. Caselli's landscaping service.

Mr. Caselli, who lived with his parents at 7 North Valley Road, was born in New Milford March 23, 1984. He graduated from New Milford High School in 2002 and was self-employed in a lawn maintenance and landscaping service.

He was a member of the New Milford Men's Softball League and the New Milford High School Wrestling Team Alumni.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his stepmother, Marilyn Celia Caselli; a sister, Jennifer Caselli; a stepbrother, John Ristau and stepsister, Rene Ristau; paternal grandmother, Beatrice Caselli of Stratford; maternal grandmother, Mary Lahita of Trumbull, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.