BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — The Battle Creek home where a landlord confessed to killing two of his tenants back in October was demolished Thursday morning.
This comes after five fires at the property in the last six months.
"This is what we call an emergency demo," said the Calhoun County Treasurer and Land Bank Chair Brian Wensauer.
Demolition for 203 Post Avenue in Battle Creek started around 8 a.m. on Thursday. It took just 12 minutes to take the structure down.
The tear down effort is the final chapter for the home where Joseph Soule and Jaclyn Lepird once lived. The couple disappeared last fall. Police say their landlord Chad Allen Reed confessed to killing the couple back in October.
READ: Landlord confesses to killing Joseph Soule and Jaclyn Lepird
Neighbors in the area said they wanted to see the home torn down as it became an eyesore for the neighborhood.
"A whole lot of complaints. Not only that, the commissioners in Battle Creek city were getting a lot of complaints especially because the instance of the tragedy that happened here," said Wensauer.
After Reed's arrest, the home became a target, being set on fire 5 separate times, including twice on Tuesday morning.
"We were worried that kids would get curious, and this happens a lot. This is why we do emergency demos. We don’t want to wait. The biggest thing we had to wait for was the utilities," said Wenhauser.
RELATED: Damaged Battle Creek home to be torn down
The home belonged to Reed but was transferred over to the Calhoun County Treasurer's Office at the end of March for nonpayment of three years of taxes.
"The property is going to be cleaned up and in August, we will be having an auction. This property will be sold as a vacant property," said Wenhauser.
Family members of the couple killed came out to the property during demolition. They said the demolition doesn't bring them closure and hope to see Reed convicted.
