- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Yolo Today
By the People, for the People
Murder charges filed in deadly Esparto fireworks explosion, 3 people arrested
Yolo County sheriff's lieutenant, sheriff's department employee, Esparto volunteer firefighter face dozens of charges
Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:50am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The devastating fireworks explosion in Esparto exposed systemic failures in local oversight that allowed hazardous operations to continue unchecked, with deadly consequences.Yolo TodayThree people tied to last year's deadly fireworks explosions in Esparto, California have been arrested, including a Yolo County sheriff's lieutenant, his wife who worked at the sheriff's office, and the owner of a fireworks company that operated at the site. The explosions killed seven people and destroyed several buildings.
Why it matters
The Yolo County Civil Grand Jury found that top county officials were aware of illegal fireworks operations at the Esparto explosion site for years but failed to take enforcement action, directly leading to the deadly incident. This case highlights issues with oversight and accountability around hazardous operations in local communities.
The details
Samuel Machado, 45, a lieutenant at the Yolo County Sheriff's Office, and his wife Tammy Machado, 46, a non-sworn administrative employee at the sheriff's office, were arrested and face dozens of charges including murder, conspiracy, and possession of illegal explosives. Craig Cutright, 61, the owner of a fireworks company called Blackstar Fireworks that operated at the Machados' property, was also arrested and charged. The explosions occurred on July 1 at a facility called Devastating Pyrotechnics, killing seven people who worked there.
- The deadly fireworks explosions occurred on July 1, 2025.
- The three suspects were arrested on April 10, 2026.
The players
Samuel Machado
A 45-year-old lieutenant at the Yolo County Sheriff's Office who is facing 26 charges including 7 counts of murder.
Tammy Machado
The 46-year-old wife of Samuel Machado who worked as a non-sworn administrative employee at the Yolo County Sheriff's Office.
Craig Cutright
The 61-year-old owner of Blackstar Fireworks, a fireworks company that operated at the Esparto property owned by the Machados, and who is facing 12 charges.
What’s next
The Yolo County District Attorney's Office will hold a press conference on Friday morning to announce indictments against the three suspects.
The takeaway
This case highlights the devastating consequences that can occur when local authorities fail to properly enforce regulations and oversight around hazardous operations, even when red flags are present. It raises serious questions about accountability and the need for stronger code enforcement to protect public safety.
