Prosecutors say the builder couldn't escape the fire because Daniel Beckwitt blindfolded him going into the sprawling tunnels
A MILLIONAIRE in the US has been charged over the bizarre death of a builder hired to build a secret nuclear bunker under his home.
Daniel Beckwitt, a 27-year-old stock trader from Maryland, was building the bunker because of his fear of a nuclear attack by the North Korea.
He appeared in court on Thursday to face charges of involuntary murder and "depraved heart second-degree murder" because officials say he acted with wanton disregard for human life over the death of Askia Khafra in September 2017, .
The 21-year-old died from smoke inhalation and thermal injuries suffered in the September 10 blaze at Beckwitt's home in the wealthy Washington DC suburb of Bethesda.
The young man was found in the basement in an elaborate tunnel system, .
The 200ft tunnel system, which was concealed 20ft beneath Beckwitt's basement, was fitted with a "daisy chain" of electrical power cords, prosecutors say in charging documents.
The court papers, filed on May 25 in Montgomery County, cite dangerous hoarding conditions inside the home, and say Beckwitt was "specifically aware of the increased likelihood of a fire breaking out", but did nothing to prevent it.
Police also described "immense piles of garbage and discarded items strewn throughout the entire home"and "narrow maze-like pathways" in the house.
Detectives said Khafra was hired to help dig the tunnels underneath the home and was blindfolded every day before getting to the tunnels because Beckwitt, believed to be worth at least $3.7million did not want him to know where he was working.
Khafra would sleep, eat and use the bathroom in the tunnels.
Beckwitt’s defence said Khafra’s death was an accident and that there was no ill-will or intent in his death - but prosecutors argue the builder was not able to escape the fire because he wasn’t familiar with the layout of the home since he was always blindfolded going into the tunnels.
Beckwitt was released on a $100,000 bond on Thursday.
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