Copperas Cove woman arrested for arson, fabricating evidence in May 24 home explosion

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

An arrest has been made in connection with a May 24 house explosion in the 100 block of East Blancas Drive in Copperas Cove.

Devin Nicole Bellows, 42, of Copperas Cove was booked into the Coryell County jail on Sunday for arson causing bodily injury/death and tampering/fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair. She is in jail as of Monday, June 17 on a $210,000 bond.

Copperas Cove police had previously arrested Bellows on Thursday, June 13 for the charge of tampering/fabricating evidence charge.

Michael Lower, 34, of Killeen, was injured as a result of the explosion. He succumbed from his injuries at a local hospital on May 28. The May 24 explosion leveled the property on the corner of East Blancas Drive and Main Street.

According to Coryell County property records, Devon Bellows had previously been listed as one of the owners on the deed to the property, back on December 20, 2016, as a gift deed from a Judy Bellows, with both Devon and Judy listed as owners.

But then, Devon’s name was removed from the deed via a special warranty deed on Sept. 4, 2020, and Judy’s name remained solely on the deed with that transaction. Just 11 days later, ownership then passed via another gift deed from Judy Bellows to a Dolores V. Vela on September 15, where the property remained in Vela’s name until another gift deed on February 16, 2023. The grantee’s is not listed on the CAD record for that transaction.

This is a developing story that will be updated when more information becomes available.