A Hartshorne man is currently in federal custody after investigators said he operated “a very large homemade explosive laboratory operation” in Hartshorne.
Court records show Kelly Von Morck is currently being held on federal complaints of User of controlled substance in possession of firearms, storing explosives in a manner not in conformity with federal regulations, user of controlled substances in possession of explosives, possession of an NFA weapon not registered to them in the NFRTR, and unlawfully engaging the business of importing, manufacturing, or dealing in explosive materials without a license.
In a federal complaint filed Thursday, investigators wrote the investigation into Morck began in October 2024 after an explosion occurred at a residence in Hartshorne.
Morck was found by first responders severely injured, and he was flown via medical helicopter to a hospital in Tulsa with third-degree burns and multiple lacerations to his body when an explosion occurred on the front porch of the residence, the complaint states.
After a search warrant was obtained for the property, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives “a very large homemade explosive laboratory operation and materials suspected to be synthesized on site were located.”’
ATF photos obtained from court documents.
“Additionally, multiple suspected destructive devices, or improvised explosive devices, were located and collected,” the complaint states. “Agents also found three firearms, ammunition, a quantity of narcotics to include methamphetamine, marijuana, LSD, MDMA, steroids, and psychedelic mushrooms.”
The complaint states that due to the number of bulk powders and precursors found, agents conducted an emergency disposal at the scene without incident on Oct. 21, 2024.
During the investigation, investigators gathered evidence of several purchases from various chemical companies of “chemical components commonly used to manufacture explosives” from 2023 to 2024, the complaint states.
Investigators were also made aware of attempts to make several more purchases between September 2024 and June 2025. The companies told agents that a number of the later orders were cancelled and not shipped due to previous subpoenas issued during the investigation, court records state.
Agents wrote in the complaint that a federal grand jury obtained Morck’s medical records from his hospital stay in October, and a urine screen showed he tested positive for amphetamine, cocaine, cannabinoid, and fentanyl.
According to the complaint, agents from the United States Secret Service were able to “rebuild” a cell phone that was damaged in the October explosion, and ATF agents were able to view videos of Morck lighting several homemade explosives and rockets.
ATF photos obtained from court documents
“Upon review of reports, photographs, videos, and evidence examination in the case, the data suggested at least one device recovered from Morck’s residence was consistent with the characteristics of a destructive device,” the complaint states.
Agents said in the report that due to the documented purchases and attempted purchases from chemical companies since the incident in October led them to believe Morck “may be once again manufacturing homemade explosives and destructive devices.”
A second search warrant was conducted on June 6 at the residence in Hartshorne, with agents first locating suspected marijuana and methamphetamine, in which Morck admitted to “smoking marijuana regularly to help him sleep and using methamphetamine to keep himself awake during working hours,” according to the complaint.
Various chemical precursors that are used in the manufacture of explosive/destructive devices were also found along with “an intact, suspected, destructive device,” the document states.
Morck admitted to building the device in May and planned to use it to destroy a tree on his property, but had not detonated the device because “he was fearful of an outcome similar” to the incident in October, the report states.
“Due to the inherent danger to agents and other individuals, an emergency on-site detonation of the precursors, detonators, and other materials was conducted at the residence site on June 26, 2025,” according to the complaint.
Court records show Morck’s initial arraignment on the federal complaint is scheduled for July 1 at the federal courthouse in Muskogee.