ESTANCIA, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico sheriff says a retired Sandia Labs scientist was apparently building bombs at his home before he died.

Torrance County Sheriff Heath White tells KOB-TV (http://bit.ly/w6oRwm ) it appears 81-year-old David O'Keefe spent his retirement on the outskirts of Estancia continuing his work up until he died a few months ago.

White says O'Keefe was trying to make a new type of explosive and was experimenting with different chemicals and different compounds to make that explosive, which put neighbors within a half mile in great danger.

Deputies discovered the explosives Saturday when the property owner went to check on the home and found the chemicals.

White says cleanup will take some time.

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Information from: KOB-TV, http://www.kob.com