Andrew Kehoe

Andrew Kehoe
Photo taken c. 1920
Born	Andrew Phillip Kehoe (1872-02-01)February 1, 1872 Tecumseh, Michigan, U.S.
Died	May 18, 1927(1927-05-18) (aged 55) Bath Township, Michigan, U.S.
Cause of death	Suicide (explosives)
Occupation	Farmer, school board member, treasurer
Spouse(s)	Ellen Agnes "Nellie" Price (m. 1912; murdered 1927)
Killings
Date	May 18, 1927
Location(s)	Bath Township, Michigan
Target(s)	Bath Consolidated School
Killed	44
Injured	58
Weapons	Explosives (dynamite, firebombs, pyrotol)

Andrew Philip Kehoe (February 1, 1872 – May 18, 1927) was an American farmer and treasurer of his township school board, notable as a mass murderer for killing his wife and 43 other people (including 38 children), and injuring 58 people by setting off bombs in the Bath School disaster on May 18, 1927. He committed suicide near the school by detonating dynamite in his truck, causing an explosion which killed several other people and wounded more. He had earlier set off incendiary devices in his house and farm, destroying all the buildings, as well as killing two horses and other animals.

Kehoe was born in Tecumseh, Michigan, among the younger of a family of 13 children. His parents were Philip Kehoe (1833–1915) and Mary (McGovern) Kehoe (1835–1890). After his mother died, his father remarried; reportedly, Kehoe often argued with his stepmother. When Kehoe was 14 the family's stove exploded as she was attempting to light it. The oil fuel soaked her, and she caught fire. He watched his stepmother burn for a few moments before throwing water from a bucket on her; due to the oil-based nature of the fire, the water exacerbated the flames. She later died from her injuries. Allegations were made that the stove had been tampered with.

Kehoe attended Tecumseh High School and Michigan State College (later Michigan State University), where he studied electrical engineering. There he met his future wife, Ellen "Nellie" Price, the daughter of a wealthy Lansing family.

After college, Kehoe went west, working for several years as an electrician in St. Louis, Missouri. During this period, in 1911, he suffered a severe head injury in a fall.

After his return to Michigan, he married Nellie Price in 1912 and in 1919 the couple bought a 185-acre (750,000 m²) farm outside the village of Bath from Nellie's aunt for $12,000. He paid $6,000 in cash and took out a $6,000 mortgage.

Kehoe was regarded by his neighbors as a highly intelligent man who grew impatient and angry with those who disagreed with him. Neighbors recalled that Kehoe was always neat, dressed meticulously, and was known to change his shirt at midday or whenever it became even slightly dirty. Neighbors also recounted how Kehoe was cruel to his farm animals, having once beaten a horse to death.