Nursing Home Blast Sparks Lawsuit

At a Glance

• The widower of nurse Muthoni Nduthu filed suit over the Dec. 23, 2025 explosion at Bristol Health & Rehab Center.
• The complaint claims the facility and PECO knew of a gas odor “multiple hours, if not multiple days” before the blast.
• Three people died and twenty others were injured; the NTSB investigation continues.
• Why it matters: Families allege that early warnings were ignored, raising questions about evacuation protocols and utility response times.

The husband of a nurse killed in last month’s deadly nursing-home explosion has sued the Bristol facility, its owner, and the local utility, saying they failed to evacuate even after workers and residents reported smelling gas.

Lawsuit Filed

David Ndegwa Mathenge-whose wife, 52-year-old Muthoni Nduthu, died in the Dec. 23, 2025 blast-filed the wrongful-death complaint in state court, according to documents confirmed Tuesday, Jan. 13, by News Of Philadelphia.

Named defendants:

• Bristol Health & Rehab Center, 905 Tower Road, Bristol, Pennsylvania
• Saber Healthcare Holdings, LLC, the facility’s owner
• PECO Energy Company
• Exelon Corporation, PECO’s parent

The suit is the latest legal action following the explosion that leveled parts of the 200-bed center and shook nearby houses.

Timeline of Events

Core Allegations

The new lawsuit claims:

• Staff and visitors reported a strong gas odor well before the explosion.
• Defendants “knew or should have known” about the leak for “multiple hours, if not multiple days.”
• No evacuation order was given; people were told to remain inside.
• The failure to act showed “conscious disregard for the safety and lives” of everyone in the building.

“Defendants affirmatively instructed residents, visitors, and workers to remain inside Bristol Health & Rehab Center despite knowing the extreme danger,” the complaint states.

Investigation Status

• A PECO crew had been dispatched to investigate the odor and was on site when the blast occurred.
• The National Transportation Safety Board has taken the lead on determining the cause.
• Officials have not publicly identified what ignited the gas.
• The identity of the third fatality has not been released.

Company Responses

PECO, citing federal rules tied to the NTSB probe, declined to discuss specifics.

“We are a party to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation,” a spokesperson wrote in an email to News Of Philadelphia. “We are fully cooperating with the NTSB and according to the NTSB rules, we are not permitted to comment on this matter.”

Saber Healthcare Holdings has not issued a public statement on the new suit.

Victim Profile

Muthoni Nduthu, a nurse at the center, leaves behind:

• Husband David Ndegwa Mathenge
• Three sons
• One granddaughter

Memorial services are set for Saturday morning in Bensalem.

Prior Litigation

• Jan. 6: Four injured survivors filed negligence claims.
• Jan. 9: Two more victims joined the docket.

All suits make similar allegations: warnings were ignored, evacuation was delayed, and the utility and facility failed in their duty of care.

What Happens Next

• The NTSB investigation is ongoing; a preliminary report is expected within weeks.
• Additional civil actions are likely as families of the injured and deceased assess damages.
• No criminal charges have been filed.

Key Takeaways

• Three deaths and twenty injuries make the blast one of Pennsylvania’s deadliest utility-related incidents in recent years.
• Multiple lawsuits center on the same claim: the smell of gas was noticed long before the explosion yet no evacuation occurred.
• With the NTSB silencing public comment, families are turning to civil court for answers-and accountability.