Lucy Preston died Saturday afternoon from injuries sustained in a devastating house explosion that destroyed her Comstock Park home earlier this week. The Kent County Sheriff's Office confirmed her death, closing a chapter on a case investigators say was an attempted murder-suicide by her husband.

Preston, 61, was pulled from the rubble of her home on Rollaway Drive NE by two neighbors Tuesday morning around 4 a.m. She was hospitalized with fourth-degree burns and placed on a ventilator. Her husband, Doug Preston, died in the blast. A positive identification of his body is still pending according to the sheriff's office.

A blast that shook a neighborhood

The explosion was so powerful that it prompted approximately 50 emergency calls from residents as far away as miles from the scene. The home was located south of 7 Mile Road NE in Plainfield Township.

"It sounded like a huge bomb being dropped," neighbor Chanel Raddatz told WOODTV.

One 911 caller described the scene to dispatchers. "The house is gone," the caller said. "It's horrible. It's horrible."

Another caller said the blast was "the loudest bang I've ever heard."

Evidence points to murder-suicide

Investigators with the Plainfield Township Fire Department say natural gas was intentionally leaked into the basement of the Prestons' home. Kent County Undersheriff Bryan Muir said text messages between the couple and statements Lucy Preston made before being taken to the hospital provided evidence of the alleged murder-suicide.

Court records show Lucy Preston filed for divorce in March. The couple was scheduled to appear in court Friday for a divorce hearing. Their 40th wedding anniversary would have been Sunday.

A community loses a giver

Lucy Preston was known far beyond her immediate neighborhood. She founded Busia's Boutique at Jackson Street Hall in 2024. The nonprofit provides free clothing and toiletries for families in need.

She was also an active member of the Polish National Aid Society and the Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids. The society described her as a "vibrant and cherished" member in a social media post Saturday.

"She generously committed herself to the restoration of the Jackson Street Hall, which was just one of many acts of kindness she offered throughout her life in the community," the society said. "To be around her warm spirit was truly a beautiful place to be."

Anna Tylzynski, president of the Polish National Aid Society, called Preston "bubbly, joyful, kind."

"She provides joy, she gives joy, she is joy," Tylzynski said.

Tylzynski said Preston helped tear off old siding during the society's renovation of Jackson Street Hall. Preston suggested starting a children's clothing mission during that work. The idea became Busia's Boutique.

The Polish National Aid Society's 200 members are working to keep the nonprofit's mission alive in Preston's absence.

"We have help to continue this mission of hers in her absence and make sure that we are still providing aid to our community as we have been since 1878," Tylzynski said.

Supporters raised approximately $14,000 for Preston through a GoFundMe campaign after the explosion.

What happens next

The wreckage of the Preston home remains on Rollaway Drive NE. Authorities have placed signs warning people to stay away from the property. The exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation, though investigators say the intentional gas leak points to Doug Preston's involvement.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence, resources are available:

  • Safe Haven Ministries 24/7 Hotline: (616) 452-6664
  • National Hotline: (800) 799-7234