Nebraska Dry Cleaner Owner Faces Arson, Insurance Fraud Charges

The owner of a Nebraska dry cleaning business that burned following an explosion last year has been charged with arson and insurance fraud.

The Sarpy County Attorney’s Office says in news release that 53-year-old Michael McKernan, owner of the Wardrobe Spa just southwest of Omaha, was charged with three insurance fraud counts in addition to the arson charge. If convicted, McKernan faces up to 14 years in prison.

The blast and fire last October leveled the building. Fire investigators say someone had tampered with the building’s natural gas system.

McKernan was outside trimming some bushes when the explosion occurred, but he wasn’t hurt. His truck was parked between him and the business.

It was unclear Tuesday whether McKernan had hired a lawyer. A publicly-listed phone number for McKernan could not be found.