Shock Absorber Thrown in Bonfire Leaves 16-Year-Old Girl with Facial Fractures and Burns
Police say a man who drilled holes in a car part to release chemicals faced three aggravated assault counts after debris struck a teenager during a Halloween party.
By Lorenzo Patterson ·
Jaidynn Penberthy, 16, lost her pulse for approximately one minute after a car part exploded in her face during a Halloween gathering in the Phoenix desert. The blast occurred around 10:30 p.m. last Friday. While multiple attendees were hit by flying debris, Penberthy sustained the most severe damage, requiring transport to a burn center.
Police identified 24-year-old Samuel Wolf Schnee as the individual who threw the object into the fire. Court records indicate he was booked on three counts of aggravated assault and seven counts of endangerment. Prosecutors argue his actions were extremely reckless, noting that he admitted to drilling holes in the shock absorber to release harmful chemicals while knowing those chemicals were present inside.
Ethan Glass, Penberthy’s brother, described the scene as resembling a horror movie due to the volume of blood. He stated that strangers performed immediate lifesaving measures, including a sternum rub to restore her pulse, while friends drove her to seek help and called 911. Penberthy suffered a broken jaw, multiple facial fractures, missing teeth, and burns. The shrapnel struck her mouth, nose, and side of the face, according to Glass.
Medical records show Penberthy underwent facial reconstruction surgery and still requires several additional operations. Her brother noted that she is crying due to the pain and has difficulty breathing. Despite the severity of her injuries, Glass said his sister remains thankful to be alive. A GoFundMe page has been established to help cover her ongoing medical expenses.
Schnee appeared in court early Saturday morning. Judge Dawn Sauer, the state prosecutor, argued that Schnee’s knowledge of the internal chemicals made his act particularly dangerous. Schnee’s attorney, Jerald Schreck, countered that the state had not confirmed which specific item caused the explosion and questioned the identification of Schnee as the thrower. However, the judge found probable cause based on testimony from at least two or three witnesses who identified Schnee placing the shock in the fire.
The judge determined that proximate cause, or whether Schnee’s actions directly led to the injuries, would be decided at trial. Schreck requested that Schnee be released on his own recognizance, citing his background as an Eagle Scout and lifeguard, his lack of criminal history, and the fact that his family remains in the area. Sauer requested a $75,000 bond. The judge set the bond at $25,000, stating that while Schnee posed a danger at the time of the incident, she did not believe he posed a current danger to the community.
Schnee posted the bond and was released from custody. The incident has raised questions about the safety of discarding mechanical components in open fires, particularly when those components contain pressurized fluids or gases. The legal process will now focus on establishing the direct link between the drilled shock absorber and the specific injuries sustained by Penberthy.
The case illustrates how a single decision made during a social event can lead to complex legal and medical consequences. The defense will likely argue that the risk was unforeseeable, while the prosecution will point to the defendant’s admission that he knew the part contained harmful chemicals. Penberthy’s recovery will continue with further surgeries to address her facial fractures and burns.
