MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Georgia man who was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the Morgantown home explosion that killed former West Virginia University student Carly Grozier was found not guilty Wednesday in Monongalia County Magistrate Court.
The verdict was announced late Wednesday afternoon in the case of John Bland.
Bland was working on a shower at the residence located at 727 Wells Street in September 2023. Prosecutors alleged his poor work sparked the explosion that killed Grozier.
Involuntary manslaughter is a misdemeanor crime.
Defense attorney Joey Garcia said while he and his client are grateful that the verdict went in their direction, the loss of Grozier’s life was not forgotten.
“You know, it’s a sad day, there was a girl that died,” said Garcia. “But kind of like I said in my closing, this was not the right case, it was a reach, and justice does not mean injustice to someone else.”
Garcia said the charge of involuntary manslaughter against his client was a reach by prosecutors.
“To me, there was nothing of substance that showed or connected him to what actually happened that caused the death of Carly Grozier,” said Garcia. “I’m glad that John Bland got his day in trial today, and he got his right to have that jury trial, and I trust the jury process. Still, that doesn’t take away from the family (of Grozier).”
While Bland is no longer criminally liable for the deadly explosion that killed Grozier, a civil suit is still pending that was filed by her parents, Cathie Given and Vance Grozier, on behalf of her estate. This was part of a multi-person complaint that was filed in Monongalia County Circuit Court back in July 2024, where he was named alongside Dustin Barnes, property landlords Linda Barnes and Steven Barnes, and their holdings: LVR Properties, D-Bo’s Rentals, Archie’s BBQ, Archie’s Restaurant, Barbeck Incorporated, The Lakehouse Restaurant, and Blazing Property Solutions. With the civil trial still pending, Garcia stated that Bland is still reflective of the loss of life that September day, regardless of the not guilty verdict.
“John and I feel bad for them, but at the same time, this was the right verdict, and I’m just glad that this was the outcome the jury came to,” said Garcia.