Holly and Seth Stutzman had just finished a sunny afternoon at the Atwood Fall Festival with their 20-year-old son, Zachary. They were wrapping up lunch at a restaurant near Atwood when Seth’s phone rang.
“We were just laughing, talking about the day,” Holly said. “Then everything changed in an instant.”
The call was about an explosion at their home on 17th Street NE in Massillon. Trevor, their 19-year-old son, wasn’t answering his phone.
“We tried calling him over and over,” Holly said. “Then we checked the location on his phone. It showed he was in the garage. That’s when we just knew something was terribly wrong.”
Investigators said modified fireworks may have been involved in the explosion, though the cause remains under investigation.
A Strong Faith and a Kind Heart
“Trevor loved God more than anything,” Seth said. “He wasn’t perfect, but his heart was pure. He wanted to reach people who didn’t believe — that was his mission.”
Trevor, a 2025 Washington High School graduate, was open about his challenges. He faced ADHD, psoriasis, and bullying. But his parents said his faith guided him through every struggle.
“He’d say, ‘Mom, I just want to reach one atheist,’” Holly said. “He felt like if he could help one person find God, his life would be worth it.”
“He’d mow a neighbor’s lawn, help someone move, or just listen when people needed to talk,” Seth said. “He didn’t do it for attention. He did it because he believed that’s what Jesus would do.”
“We Prayed the Whole Way Home”
After learning of the explosion, Holly and Seth began the long drive home from Atwood.
“We were both crying and praying out loud,” Seth said. “We just said, ‘God, please carry us through this.’”
Faith, they said, is what has helped them through the pain.
“There are moments where it feels like he’s just upstairs, like he’ll come walking in any minute,” Holly said. “Then I remember he’s home with Jesus. And that brings peace.”
Hurt by Rumors, Lifted by Love
In the days following the tragedy, the Stutzmans said they were hurt by some of the comments and rumors circulating on social media.
“That’s been hard,” Seth said. “We just wish people would focus on the good — on Trevor’s heart, his faith, and how he lived.”
Holly said she hopes people will choose compassion over speculation. “People forget there’s a family behind those stories,” she said. “We’re just asking for kindness.”
Even with the negativity online, the Stutzmans said they’ve been overwhelmed by the love and support they’ve received in person.
“We’ve had people we haven’t talked to in years reaching out,” Holly said. “It’s been incredible. It’s like God is showing us how much Trevor touched lives.”
Neighbors brought meals, friends stopped by to pray, and people from across the community reached out to offer help and comfort.
“The community has been amazing,” Seth said. “We couldn’t have gotten through this without their prayers and support.”
Carrying His Legacy
The Stutzmans said they plan to continue Trevor’s legacy through faith and kindness.
“Trevor talked about wanting to leave a legacy,” Holly said. “He didn’t know what that would look like, but now we do. His legacy will be love, faith, and compassion.”
That mission continues this weekend at the “Pistons and Prayers” car show at Newman Baptist Church — an event organized to celebrate Trevor’s life and faith.
“He Believed God Had a Plan”
“Trevor believed God had a plan for everything,” Seth said. “Even when he was struggling, he’d tell us, ‘God’s got me.’ That’s what we hold onto now.”
“We miss him every second,” Holly said. “But we know where he is. He’s home. And I know he’s smiling, saying, ‘See? I told you God was real.’”
