Exploding 'Meth Lab' House Linked to Palmer Woman, Police Say

A Palmer Township woman was named as one of three alleged co-conspirators of a 64-year-old Northeast Bethlehem woman who is accused of operating methamphetamine lab in her house, which exploded and caught fire earlier this month, and was arrested and charged with three drug counts on Tuesday.

Davina C. Bowler, 39, of 935 S. 25th St. in Palmer Township was committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail following her arraignment before District Judge James Narlesky of Hanover Township.

Elaine M. Noone, 64, of 1965 Greenleaf St., which was the site of the March 8 explosion and fire, was arrested Monday on eight counts and released on $75,000 unsecured bail.

Bethlehem police continue to be on the lookout for two other alleged co-conspirators: Daniel James Houser, 39, and Jeffrey Caulfield, 28. According to court records, both men lived at the Greenleaf Street address, which was condemned by city officials after the fire.

Anyone with any information regarding the whereabouts of these two men is asked to contact the Bethlehem Police Department at 610-865-7187 or Det. Christopher Vasvari at 610-865-7129.

According to the arrest affidavits for both Noone and Bowler, the Pennsylvania State Police Clandestine Crime Laboratory found prepared methamphetamine as well as a number of ingredients that are known to be used in the drug’s manufacture.

Those ingredients included pseudoephedrine, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, fuel, muriatic acid, chemical drain cleaners, cooking pots, bottles, mason jars, coffee filters and plastic tubing.

Bowler was charged with possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and criminal conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, both first-class felonies, as well as a misdemeanor count of possessing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine.

Preliminary hearings for Bowler and Noone are scheduled for March 27.

The explosion and fire happened about three hours before Bethlehem police planned to execute a search warrant at the house, which was obtained as a result of a two-month investigation into methamphetamine sales in the city and Bethlehem Township, police said.