A Pennsylvania man turned a marital argument into a scene of destruction by threatening to demolish his family’s home and then carrying out the threat with an excavator while his wife and daughter were inside.Eric Pierwsza, 48, tore up the back of his Butler County home after an argument with his wife. The damage was so severe that investigators believe the entire house may no longer be safe or structurally sound.The conflict began when Piersa’s wife told him their marriage was over, CBS Pittsburgh reported. In response, he warned her: “If it’s over, I’m going to tear the house down.”He then climbed onto the excavator and began destroying parts of the house, police said. His wife and the couple’s two daughters were inside the house when the machine crashed into the building. During the 911 call, the sound of an excavator hitting a wall could be heard in the background. After the destruction stopped, Piersa returned inside, picked up a gym bag and left the area. Police later tracked him down and took him into custody.He has since been charged with causing catastrophe, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.Piersa’s wife plans to seek a protection from abuse order following the incident. The case has shocked neighbors, with many struggling to understand how an argument escalated into the partial demolition of the family home.“I wonder what she said to him because I’m going to make sure I don’t say it,” a neighbor told CBS News.He added: “I’ve been married for forty-two years and I’ve never threatened to tear down the house.”Pierwsza is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on June 9.
