Over the weekend, 38-year-old Cody Balmer was arrested after allegedly trying to set fire to the home of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. But now, Balmer’s mother is speaking out, and what she says paints a much more profound and troubling picture.
According to police, Balmer climbed the fence of the governor’s mansion early Sunday morning. He carried beer bottles filled with gasoline—homemade Molotov cocktails. Security noticed the breach, but it was already too late. The suspect threw the firebombs and tried to set the house on fire. Thankfully, Governor Shapiro, his wife, and their four children were not home at the time. But they had stayed there the night before to celebrate Passover.
After the attack, Cody Balmer didn’t run. Instead, he turned himself into the police. That’s when the story took an even darker turn. According to court documents, Balmer admitted he was planning to attack Governor Shapiro with a sledgehammer he had found. He told police he had “hatred toward Governor Shapiro.” But officials say his whole motive is still unclear.
At a press conference, Governor Shapiro said something many people probably agree with. “We don’t know the person’s specific motive yet,” he said, “but we do know a few truths. First: This type of violence is not OK. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society. And I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another or one particular person or another. It is not OK, and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.”
Balmer’s mother, Christie Balmer, is speaking out for the first time. In an interview with the Associated Press, she said her son had recently stopped taking his medication. She also revealed that she had reached out for help before the attack, but no one listened.
It’s a heartbreaking detail that adds another layer to this story. A mother saw the warning signs and tried to get help, but the system didn’t respond.
During his court hearing, Cody Balmer claimed he didn’t have any mental illness and dismissed it as just a rumor. He added, “Medication led me to different behaviors.” This shows just how complicated mental health can be—and how it can affect not only individuals but entire communities.
Balmer is not new to legal trouble. He has a record that includes domestic violence charges against his children and their mother. Because of the seriousness of this latest crime, a judge denied him bail. His next court date is set for April 23.
Balmer’s actions were dangerous and profoundly wrong. But his story is also one of missed warnings and ignored cries for help. If we want to prevent tragedies like this, we must start listening—especially when someone says they need help.
Featured image via Screengrab
