LILBURN | Home of meth fire & explosion still standing one year later | News

LILBURN, Ga. (WXIA) -- It's been a little over a year since police say a massive meth lab explosion destroyed a Lilburn home and killed three young children inside. Now the house is boarded up in front of the Spring Mill neighborhood, and neighbors get a daily reminder of the tragedy each time they drive home.

Several residents have lived there since the neighborhood was built several decades ago, and they're trying to find a solution for the eyesore at the front of their street. So far they've pitched in to mow the grass and clear the yard of fallen tree branches. As they've watched their property values fall, they've remained in touch with the county about what to do next.

"It seems a little hopeless," said 15-year resident Donna Sowell. "Personally I'd rather see the whole thing torn down so that somebody can build a new one to get rid of the bad reminder."

Code enforcement officers have cited the home nine times, and neither the landowner nor the bank in charge of the home have appeared in court to answer the charges. A trial is scheduled to proceed in April without the parties present, they face a maximum $1000 dollar fine for each guilty charge.