Crime & Safety

April 2 Trial Date Set For Man Suspected of Bombing Wife's Car

Lawrence Gerald "Larry'' Hoagland, 49, faces life in prison if convicted of attempted murder and other counts in the Sept. 23, 2010 attack on his wife, Connie.

An April 2 trial date was set Wednesday for a man accused of booby-trapping his wife's truck with a pipe bomb in an abortive attempt to kill her.

Lawrence Gerald "Larry'' Hoagland, 49, faces life in prison if convicted of attempted murder and other counts in the Sept. 23, 2010 attack on his wife, Connie.

The victim suffered burns, broken bones and other injuries when a pipe bomb planted under the dashboard of her truck went off as she got in to leave work at a daycare facility in Rancho San Diego.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to evidence presented at a preliminary hearing last month, Hoagland – a photographer – had plans to leave his family and move to Pennsylvania to be with his high school sweetheart, with whom he had renewed a romantic relationship.

Prosecutors said the defendant had visited websites on how to make a bomb before the attack.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

After the bombing, investigators from several law enforcement agencies uncovered evidence linking the defendant to the attempt on his wife's life, authorities said.

Hoagland was arrested five days after the attack.

–City News Service


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.