Nearly one year later, the search for the suspect who planted a bomb on a local attorney's car continues. In September of last year, an explosion destroyed Erik Chappel's car, nearly killing him and his two children.
Chappel and his sons were driving to football practice in Monroe, Michigan, when investigators say someone detonated a bomb attached to the family car.
The Chappell's say they want justice, and the family sat down with 13abc's Christina Williams for an exclusive interview.
It was September 20, 2011. Erik Chappell and his two sons, Cole and Grant, were driving to football practice. They had just turned off of I-75, when their car exploded.
"It was mayhem," says Erik. "We didn't know what happened."
Just like a scene out of a movie, Chappell says he saw fire and yelled for his sons to get out of the car.
"I remember unbuckling and rolling out of the car," says Cole.
"Everything just started ringing. There were stars everywhere," says Grant.
Moments later the car exploded.
"At that point, it was clear you could see blood. You could see blood in a lot of places," says Erik.
Fighting their injuries, the boys were lucky to make it out of the car alive.
Today, it's still mystery who targeted Chappell, but the ATF says someone planted the bomb and detonated it.
Grant spent 10 days in the hospital, and Cole wore a series of casts for months.
To this day, both Cole and his father have shrapnel under their skin. The wounds are a constant reminder that the person responsible -- is still out there.
"We are much more closed up," says Erik. "Locked up on a regular basis."
While the family tries to forget the attack, they still wonder who is responsible.
"I think that there are people that know something and just haven't said anything yet," says Erik.
The ATF is offering a $20,000 reward to anyone with information leading to an arrest in this case. Call 1-888-ATF-BOMB with any tips.
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