Natural gas caused explosion that killed Caleb Farley’s father

Investigators have determined that the house explosion that killed the father of Tennessee Titans cornerback Caleb Farley was caused by a natural gas leak.

The explosion occurred around 12 a.m. on Aug. 22 in Mooresville, N.C., about 27 miles north of Charlotte. The incident completely leveled the $2 million home. Several vehicles were also damaged.

Robert Farley, 61, was found in the debris in a back bedroom of the home, according to Iredell County Fire Services and Emergency Management. One other male victim was also injured in the blast. He was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The fire marshal’s office said Tuesday the point of origin for the explosion remains unknown, but is believed to have started in a bedroom.

The explosion was also described as an accident and foul play is not suspected.

Neighbors told Queen City News they smelt gas around the time of the explosion. However, “the instability of the remaining structure” is preventing any further investigation by officials.

The “remaining investigations will be conducted by the owner’s insurance provider,” the fire marshal’s office said.

Farley, 24, was not at home at the time of the incident. He told WCNC-TV that he was in Nashville when a neighbor called to tell him what had happened.

A native of Maiden, N.C., Farley played college football at Virginia Tech and was drafted by the Titans in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He took a leave of absence from the team after his father’s death.

The blast occurred more than a week after a Pennsylvania home was leveled and several nearby structures were significantly damaged in an explosion believed to have been caused by a malfunctioning water tank.