By Thomas K. Pendergast

The man whose Sunset District house blew up in February, after butane vapors from an allegedly illegal hash oil lab exploded and killed his wife, now faces a murder charge for her death.

Darron Price, 54, was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter, manufacturing a controlled substance, four counts of reckless burning, two counts of child endangerment and one count of elder abuse. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The allegation of involuntary manslaughter has been replaced by the murder charge. His wife, Rita Price, 51, reportedly suffered a stroke eight years ago and required an at-home caretaker, so both she and her caretaker were in the house at the time.

Authorities believe Price was illegally manufacturing hash oil for sale in the Sunset home’s lower level, and the caretaker inadvertently caused the blast by turning on a dryer, which ignited lingering butane fumes.

According to media reports the caretaker was badly burned but survived.

“The People argued that Mr. Price took a dangerous and deadly risk to human life and safety, knowing that his wife and her caretaker were home in the middle of a dense residential community,” Randy Quezada, communications director for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, stated in an email.

Price’s two children, ages 14 and 17, were at school when the explosion happened.

According to the San Francisco DA’s office, investigators recovered “suspected butane tanks, ovens and other materials consistent with processing hash oil with volatile solvents.”

The SF Standard reported that prosecutors allege Price was aware of the danger he was putting his family and the neighborhood in, based on conversations Price had with federal agents nearly a decade ago about the danger of hash oil production and its potential for fatal explosions.

The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office declined comment for this article, however, Price’s attorney, Public Defender Sierra Villaran, told ABC 7 news that she believes he is innocent and should not be in custody.

“We strongly believe in Mr. Price’s innocence. We believe that he should be out of custody. I do not believe he poses any danger to the public,” she said.

The SF Standard reported Villaran told them that what the government is providing as “hard evidence and information is in fact a farce. These were offhand comments at best reportedly told the SF Standard that none of the conversations between Price and federal law enforcement officers were recorded or documented and happened almost 10 years ago,” adding that there was one sole comment which could be construed as knowledge of the danger.

KRON 4 news reported that a couple whose home next door was destroyed by the explosion has filed a lawsuit against the owners of the residence.

David Garth and his wife Nang Phommavongsay told the news station that their home was ruined, and their lives forever changed after the explosion “leveled the home to its foundation.”

The defendants are identified in court documents as Peter De Martini and Diane De Martini. The De Martinis live nearby to the residence, and the court filing alleges they often walked by to check in and talk with Price.

“The behavior exhibited by the defendants is nothing short of shocking. Allowing a tenant to operate a highly dangerous drug lab in your garage is a ticking time bomb. Their neighbors David and Nang are lucky to be alive, and their lives are forever marked by this tragic event. They were left with nothing,” the couple’s attorney, David Hollenberg of Cotchett, Pitre and McCarthy, reportedly said.

The Garth Phommavongsay family did not specify the amount they are asking for in damages. However, court documents list medical expenses, past and future loss of earning as well as general and punitive damages to be considered by the court.

The initial incident report provided by the San Francisco Fire Department details some of the damages connected to the explosion. An estimated $5.5 million in property damage occurred on the street after the explosion, and an additional $2.3 million in personal property was also damaged. An estimated 15 homes faced various levels of damage after the fire, according to KRON 4 news.