A woman in Knoxville, Iowa died at a gender reveal party this weekend when she was struck by debris from an explosion using tannerite - a legal explosive commonly used for gender reveals in America.
The incident was reported by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office this weekend after police released a statement. They state that the office received a 911 call at 4pm on Saturday reporting a 56-year-old woman named Pamela Kreimeyer had been "seriously injured" in an explosion. When officers arrived at the scene, she was pronounced dead.
The sherriff’s investigation concluded that she was struck by flying debris after the gender reveal announcement created an explosion. They said the family were experimenting with different types of explosives in an attempt to record a gender reveal that would go viral on social media.
By placing gunpowder in the bottom of a homemade stand that was welded to a metal base plate, Kreimeyer and five other family members inadvertently created a "pipe bomb" that exploded. Kreimeyer was 45 feet away when she was hit by metal that flew off the stand and was killed instantly, according to the sheriff's office. The projectile then continued another 144 yards before landing in a field.
"Instead of the gunpowder shooting the powder out the top of the stand, the stand exploded sending metal pieces flying," the sheriff's office said. "This family got together for what they thought was going to be a happy event with no intent for anyone to get hurt. This is a reminder that anytime someone mixes these things there is a high potential for serious injury or death; please do not take these unnecessary risks."
Check out: Autumn Baby Name Inspiration
Autumn Baby Name Inspiration - slider & stacked
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1. AmberThis name is taken from the golden-brown hue of fossilised tree resin - and means, quite simply, 'jewel'.2. Aki / AkikoThese unusual - and pretty - girls names come from the Japanese word for Autumn.
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3. Ash / AsherThese robust names come from the Middle English word 'asche' - meaning, yes, the tree. Perfect for a fall baby!4. AsterAster is a name that comes from the modern, everyday Greek word for "star" which is "asteri" - but it's also the official flower for September.
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5. AureliaThis girl name is of Latin origin, and the meaning of Aurelia is "golden" - perfect for autumn.6. AutumnWell, duh! Autumn is the hottest season name, holding a spot in the Top 100 baby names for over ten years.
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7. BaizeThis utterly unique girl name is french, meaning 'dark brown'.8. BrunaThis pretty Italian girl name means 'brown'.
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9. BrunoRich, stylish, and VERY European, this Portuguese name means 'brown'.10. CormacThis handsome Irish boys' name means "tree trunk".
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11. DaphneA classic and uber-feminine name, Daphne means 'laurel tree' - an aromatic evergreen that really comes into its own in the autumn months.12. DoryA cute name - especially when you're a Finding Nemo fan - the meaning of Dory is "golden haired". Ideal for those colourful autumn months, eh?
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13. GarnetThis unique unisex name comes from the dark red gemstone.14. HazanA rich and warm girl's name, stemming from the Turkish word for Autumn.
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15. HazelAnother unisex name taken from nature, this old fashioned moniker is derived from the tree of the same name.16. HunterThis was traditionally thought of as a super-masculine name, but it has been used for children of both genders in recent years. It is of Old English origin, and the meaning of Hunter is "hunter, pursuer".
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17. JuniperJuniper is a fresh-feeling nature name - it's another evergreen shrub - with lots of energy.18. LaurelThis unisex name is taken from the laurel tree - an aromatic evergreen that really comes into its own in the autumn months.
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19. LennoxThis Scottish name, related to the elm tree, conjure sup images of falling leaves and crisp autumnal days.20. LindenAnother popular unisex name, this one means "linden tree hill".
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21. MapleThe rich red leaves of the maple tree lend themselves well to this unusual girl's name, don't they?22. OliveMeaning "olive tree", this is another pretty nature name which would be perfect for your autumn baby.
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23. OpalThe birthstone for October, this beautiful white gem is a gorgeous name choice for an autumn baby.24. OrlaThis Irish name means "golden princess" - which is VERY apt for all the colours of the season.
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25. PerryChic, functional, and friendly, this works for both boys and girls and means "pear tree."26. QiuA pretty unisex name which stems from the Chinese word for Autumn.
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27. RavenRavens are highly-intelligent birds - and, with Robin and Wren both popular girls names, we predict that Raven is set to soar over the next few years in the baby name charts.28. RheaAnother nature name, this greek girl's moniker means "a flowing stream" and is taken from the earth mother of all gods. Win.
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29. RoryThis strong Irish name - meaning "red king" - is good for both boys and girls.30. RowanA unisex name that's also the name of a tree with red berries and that means "little redhead."
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**31. Roux (pronounced 'Roo')**This gorgeous moniker comes from a Latin word meaning russet or brownish red - and, thanks to Hunger Games's Rue, looks set to become very popular.32. RustyThis boy's name conjures to mind that gorgeous brown-red colour we all associate with the season.
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33. SaffronThis girl's name has a strong hippie vibe to it - and that might have a little something to do with the fact that it's taken from a precious orange-scented spice.34. SapphireThe birthstone for September, this name is bright, dazzling and beautiful.
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35. ScarlettMeaning "scarlet, red", this beautiful name is inspired by all the colours of the season.36. ScoutAn interesting choice for either gender, this name means "to listen" and was made famous by the feisty little girl of To Kill A Mockingbird.
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37. SiennaA real up-and-comer, this soft and delicate name is taken from the red-bricked Tuscan town of the same title.38. SparrowAnother name taken from nature, this unisex moniker is becoming VERY fashionable.
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39. ThuA unisex name, stemming from the Vietnamese word for Autumn.40. WheatleyThis means 'from the wheat meadow', making it perfect for harvest time.
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41. WillowAn ancient tree that is believed to possess magical powers, Willow is a lovely and graceful name.42. WoodyCourageous and friendly, this Toy Story-inspired name means "row of houses by a wood".
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41, RobinRobin is a small brown bird known for it's distinctive red chest and is common in Britain all year round.42, WrenLike the Robin, the Wren is a small finch-type bird that is native to England. These two names would be cute for twins or for a mum who wants her children's names to match.
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43, DahliaThis unusual flower is the national flower of Mexico and whilst is often considered a summer flower, actually can bloom right through to December making it the perfect autumnal name.44, RaineIn case there was any doubt, this is a good reminder of our temperate British climate but is less gloomy and more glam. For boys and girls.
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45, ForrestThis one is pretty self explanatory. Whether you're a Tom Hanks fan or not, this cute boys name calls to mind technicolour trees and diverse wildlife. 45, SaywerSawyer is a unisex name, meaning 'a person who cuts timber', and is also the name of our favourite character in Lost, so, there's that. 46, OakleyThe Oak is the king of the forest and likewise this earthy name conjures notions of wisdom and grandeur. Give a baby destined for big things this name.
25 of 25autumn baby names
47, MaizePronounced Maisie, Maize is a grain primarily farmed in the autumn and a core components in diets across the globe.48, AppleMade popular by Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow, the name Apple brings to mind lush orchards heavy with shiny red apples, ready for bobbing and apple pies this autumn. 49, PhoenixIf autumn was a (admittedly, mythical) bird, it would be a Phoenix. In flaming reds, oranges and golds, the Phoenix perfectly represents the autumnal palette and is a kick-ass baby name to boot. 50, GaiaGaia was the Greek goddess of Harvest - a time around September when farmers plough their fields for their year's work.
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This is the second catastrophic event to occur following a gender reveal announcement in the US, with one causing 47,000-acre wildfire last year. During that announcement, in Tucson, Arizona, a man shot a target meant to reveal the baby’s gender but the target – which contained tannerite – burst into flames and started a fire that ultimately caused $8million in damage.
In the US, gender reveal parties have become increasingly more lavish and stunt-filled. However, it was reported earlier this month that the woman who invented them has since come to regret starting the trend. "I feel like the guy who invented gunpowder," Jenna Myers Karvunidis told The Guardian.
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Karvunidis is said to have begun the trend in 2008 when she blogged about her daughters gender-reveal party – which was simply revealed in the form of blue or pink cake. Her story was picked up by a magazine and spread through Midwest America and beyond. "When you announce your son with a gunshot, or by wrestling an alligator, I think, how far are we going to take this?" she said a decade later.
She now also finds flaws in the obsession around gender that these parties perpetuate, having evolved in her own opinions after her daughter Biance - the world's first baby to receive a gender reveal - has educated her in gender politics. "Bianca tells me there are more than two genders and many sexualities. I hadn’t considered all this before," she said.
Oh the delicious irony. Perhaps with generations to come rejecting gender norms more and more, gender reveal parties will be a thing of that past. Clearly, with the news of this weekend, it's more necessary now than ever before.