Sister Of Man Accused Of Having Explosives In South Jordan Home Speaks Out

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah — New details have emerged about a house explosion in South Jordan.

KSL TV has been digging into the house of horrors and spoke with the homeowner’s sister. It appears the sister may have seen the second explosion coming.

The explosives found in Ryan McManigal’s home back in July shocked neighbors, but not his sister, who said her brother has long been making threats, all over money.

“I didn’t want to get public, but at this time, too many people are getting hurt,” said Bridget McManigal Black.

Bridget McManigal Black said she’s still processing what took place at her 42-year-old brother’s South Jordan home on Saturday.

“That poor neighborhood,” she said. “If we think about it, this happens on holidays — Pioneer Day, now Halloween.”

Ryan McManigal remains in jail following the July stand-off with police and subsequent discovery of 20 pounds of highly explosive materials.

Black said her cousin, 46-year-old Jacob MacFarlane, was inside the boarded up place Saturday afternoon when the explosion happened.

“My understanding is that while Jacob was going in and fixing the home — taking things in and out — this bomb went off,” she said.

Neighbors said the explosion came from the basement, the same place court documents indicate TATP (Triacetone Triperoxide) was found during the July incident. But it remains unclear if Jacob accidentally detonated other unknown materials.

“My obvious questions are: why didn’t Ryan tell about another bomb in the home?” she said. “I guess he must have assumed that the bomb squad got everything.”

Then there is a darker possibility.

“Was Jacob there to build another bomb?” said Black. “We don’t know.”

Bridget said Jacob remains close to Ryan, who sent her a letter from Jail in mid-September, accusing her of cheating him out of his share of their mother’s inheritance. He stated in part: “I hope you understand the implications of what happened and what is heading your way because of it. I forgive you, but that doesn’t mean everyone else will.”

“Here he is terrorizing me while still in jail,” she said.

Bridget said Ryan made similar threats in March 2019 when he told relatives he booby trapped their late mother’s Las Vegas home, prompting Bridget to file a protective order against him.

“I specifically remember warning people — he is going to hurt someone,” she said.

A text message Ryan allegedly sent to a relative in March said, “I like to get creative with solenoids and batteries and sparks and natural gas. My mother had quite a little fun set up to play with. It’s the neighbors I’m worried about.”

“Ryan was never charged because it was just a threat at that point,” said Black.

City officials said the home will remain condemned as the investigation into the cause of Saturday’s explosion continues.

A press release on Sunday stated, “As a result of the July 2020 incident at the same location involving homemade explosives, the South Jordan Police Department, West Valley and UFA Bomb Squad, FBI and ATF are conducting a joint investigation into the events leading up to the explosion.”

Deputy Chief Lessner of the South Jordan Fire Department told KSL there is “no indication that there were new materials involved in the incident.”

“I agree with the statement that was made [by neighbors],” said Bridget. “That house needs to be demolished. We don’t know what else was in there.”

Jacob MacFarlane remains hospitalized with critical injuries to his lower legs.

Meanwhile, McManigal’s attorney Greg Skordas said, “McManigal clearly suffers from a mental health illness and is undergoing an evaluation for his next hearing.”

McManigal is expected in court next month for a bail hearing and to discuss the evaluation.