The man accused of setting the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion ablaze over the weekend was out on bail stemming from a 2023 domestic assault case.
Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family escaped without injury early Sunday. Cody Balmer was arrested in the attack.
Balmer had been released from police custody with the posting of bail after an incident in January 2023. Fox News verified that during that month, law enforcement was called to Balmer’s home when his 13-year-old son contacted them to report that Balmer was physically harming his wife.
According to a legal report from the Penbrook Borough Police Department regarding the event, Balmer was later accused of three instances of simple assault. The report mentions that Balmer ingested an entire bottle of pills in an attempt to harm himself. When his son intervened between Balmer and his wife, Balmer purportedly pushed his son aside and then hit his wife with a closed fist.
Fire damage inside the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion is shown, after an apparent arson attack early Sunday morning. (Commonwealth Media Services)
In court, Balmer stated he had never struggled with drug or alcohol dependency. He mentioned having taken mental health medication previously but claimed that the pills had caused him to exhibit different behaviors.
Balmer displayed bizarre behavior during Monday’s hearing, sticking his tongue out at reporters as he entered the courtroom. He identified himself as an out-of-work former welder with no income, money or savings during the hearing. He served in the Army Reserves from 2004 to 2012, according to an Army spokesperson.
Fox News also confirmed that the accused man was out on bail related to a domestic abuse case during the time of the alleged arson.
However, he was allowed out on bail to “make [it] easier to co-parent,” ABC News reported.
According to the criminal complaint against him, “Balmer admitted to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro.” Balmer told investigators “he removed gasoline from a lawn mower and poured it into Heineken bottles he found at his residence.”
Balmer also reportedly admitted to the crime while in police custody. He allegedly scaled the fence of the governor’s mansion, entered through windows broken with a hammer, and lit it on fire with homemade incendiary devices.
Balmer is being held without bond on charges of attempted murder, aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism and other related offenses after allegedly setting the fire in the early morning hours on Sunday.
Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania State Police provide an update on the act of arson that took place at the Governor’s Residence. (Commonwealth Media Services)
Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens explained further in a Sunday press conference.
“He actively evaded troopers who were here to secure the residence,” said. “While [police] were searching is when he attacked at the residence, [and] broke in and set the fires…it was a very quick event that occurred.”
Fox News’ Stephen Sorace, Andrea Margolis, Pilar Arias, Liz Friden, Kitty Le Clare and Alexis McAdams contributed to this report.
