The 911 call made seconds after a homemade cannon exploded in rural San Diego County reveals an emotional apology from the man accused of killing his girlfriend.
Richard Fox, 39, is charged with killing Jeannette Fay Ogara in the couple's Potrero, Calif. mobile home on Tuesday.
In a 911 call released by officials Thursday, Fox can be heard explaining what happened:
"We've been drinking a little bit, you know, I mean we had a few beers whatever, (inaudible) I went out there and lit this stupid (expletive) home made cannon with this firework in there and then it (expletive) went off and blew a hole through the side of the house and it hit her in the side and (expletive) oh my God.. oh my God."
Sheriff's deputies initially described the device as a "cannon" but changed that to "an explosive device" at Fox's arraignment on charges of murder, explosion of destructive device causing death and felony child abuse.
The device was a 26-inch pipe with a cap on one end of it officials said. The pipe was then placed on the ground and filled with explosive powder from fireworks according to investigators.
Fox entered a not guilty plea and his bail was set at $3.5 million. The district attorney asked for Fox to be held on no bail.
Ogara's 4-year-old daughter was in the trailer along with other adults at the time of the explosion. The child is currently staying with Ogara’s mother, according to a family friend who attended the arraignment.
During the 911 call, Fox said it was an accident and made an emotional apology to Ogara.
"Jeanette, I'm so sorry. I love you," he can be heard saying on the recording. "Why couldn't it be me?"
A preliminary hearing is set for March 21.
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