Shraman Mitra
In February 2003, the Station Nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, was razed to the ground in a fire that originated from fireworks being set off inside. The band Great White was actually performing at the time, and their tour manager Daniel Biechele had set off four gerb fireworks near the stage as a part of the set. Immediately, the acoustic foam caught fire, and the wooden one-storied established caved in within moments.
’48 Hours: The Station Nightclub Fire: Who’s Responsible?’ portrays this tragedy which witnessed a hundred deaths, and even touches upon its effect on Daniel’s life. So, If this incident piques your curiosity and you want to know where Daniel Biechele is at present, we have you covered.
Who Is Daniel Biechele?
Daniel Biechele was the acting tour manager of the band Jack Russell’s Great White, who was scheduled to perform at the Station Nightclub on February 20, 2003. The band took the stage at around 11 pm, and as the set required pyrotechnics, Daniel set off four gerb fireworks near the stage. Though with the firecrackers being set off, the acoustic foam grew ablaze, which increased rapidly. However. as the flames quickly spread and rose up to the ceiling, the audience initially gathered it was all a part of the show, costing them a few costly seconds before escaping.
With the nightclub being packed with over 300 people and there being only one route out, the door got bottlenecked as people got stuck inside the inferno. The smoke, suffocation, heat, and fire all played their parts in this tragedy, as official figures confirmed a hundred deaths. Additionally, 230 other patrons were gravely injured and required serious medical attention. Daniel Biechele, though, managed to escape without any critical injuries to his person.
Daniel Biechele is Leading a Happy Family Life Today
The investigation into the incident found Daniel, as well as the owners, the Derderian brothers, responsible for the fire and, subsequently, the deaths. Thus, based on the findings, he was charged with 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter. Once in court, he pleaded guilty to the same and was sentenced to four years in prison in 2006. He also received a suspended sentence of 11 years, along with three years of probation. Incidentally, we should mention that just a month before his sentencing, Daniel married his high-school sweetheart, Mandy Gura Biechele.
In 2008, Daniel was released early from behind bars on account of his good behavior. The parole board confirmed that he showed considerable remorse for his actions and even had the support of the victims’ families. After all, he had handwritten letters to them to express his genuine care as well as remorse.
A 2013 report indicates that Daniel returned to Florida following his release from prison and settled down with his wife in Casselberry, a community outside Orlando. Sources also mention that he had left behind his career in the music industry and was instead employed as a comptroller. However, Daniel has since preferred a life of privacy and has kept away from the public sphere. At present, he and his wife, along with their two children, seems to be living in Winter Springs, Florida. They appear to be pretty happy at this stage in life, although memories of that fateful night are still fresh on Daniel’s mind as he looks forward to a better future with his family.
Read More: Where Are Jeffrey and Michael Derderian Now?
