Blenheim Man Charged with Two Counts of Attempted Homicide, Arson

A Blenheim resident is accused of attempting to kill his elderly mother, himself and another man after he allegedly doused them with lighter fluid, filled their shared Marino Avenue home with natural gas, and threatened to spark an explosion early Saturday morning.

No one was injured in the incident. The suspect never actually started a fire and no explosion occurred, according to police.

Paul Dobrzynski, 43, has been charged with two counts each of criminal attempt homicide, criminal attempt aggravated arson and terroristic threats, Gloucester Township Police Lt. Mike Harkins said.

Police were summoned to a home on the 600 block of Marino Avenue shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday on a report a male was attempting to set his elderly mother and their shared home on fire.

Arriving officers took an intoxicated Dobrzynski into custody after finding him at the front of the property and quickly removed his mother from the home after smelling a strong odor of natural gas inside the residence.

Police officers shut down the gas supply from an exterior valve, and firefighters from Blenheim and Glendora ventilated the home.

Dobrzynski allegedly sprayed lighter fluid on himself, his mother and the other male resident while threatening to kill everyone as he held a lighter and matches. The other male resident fled the home and contacted the authorities from a neighboring home.

Dobrzynkski, who is being held in Camden County Jail on $600,000 bail, blew out the pilot lights to the home's stove, according to Harkins.