Who is Cody Balmer? All About Man Charged for Setting Fire to Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion

Cody Allen Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, made national headlines in April 2025 after being charged with setting fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion while Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were inside. The early morning arson attack took place during Passover and caused significant damage to the residence.

Legal Charges & the Mansion Incident

So, who is Cody Balmer and what led to these events? According to court records, Balmer faces a series of serious charges, including attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, assault against a protected individual, and burglary. Security footage from the scene showed a man—allegedly Balmer—breaking a window and throwing a Molotov cocktail into the governor’s home. Authorities arrested him shortly after the fire was extinguished. He was denied bail during his arraignment.

A Troubled History

Even before this incident, Cody Balmer was already due in court that same week on unrelated domestic violence charges. A 2023 police affidavit details a disturbing event where Balmer allegedly attempted suicide and assaulted his wife and stepson after a heated argument. The case followed a child’s emergency call to police. Court records also confirm that Balmer and his wife finalized their divorce in early 2025, and he was under a protection-from-abuse order.

Mental Health & Background

Balmer’s mother told reporters that she had been trying to get her son help for his ongoing mental health struggles, which she says went unaddressed. Although Balmer denied having a mental illness in court, family members expressed concern about his refusal to take prescribed medications.

For those asking who is Cody Balmer, he’s a figure now at the center of a deeply troubling case involving political violence, untreated mental health concerns, and a history of legal issues in Pennsylvania.

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