Man found dead at electrical substation

By Jon Moffett

Authorities suspect the man was killed while attempting to steal copper.

GUSTAVUS — An electrocution during an apparent copper theft is not the first time such a deadly incident has occurred in the Mahoning Valley.

Ohio Edison officials and local authorities found a man’s body at an electrical substation in Gustavus Township on Monday morning while responding to a power outage.

About 2,000 Ashtabula and Trumbull county residents were without power for a time after the man was electrocuted about 1:30 a.m. at the Stoddard-Hayes Road facility. He could not be immediately identified because of the severity of his burns.

Mark Durbin, a spokesman with FirstEnergy, the parent company of Ohio Edison, said the incident should serve as a reminder for people to stay away from such facilities.

“Substations can be very dangerous places,” he said. “This incident was tragic, but the reason these substations have wire fences and signage is to keep people away. I just can’t think of anything in there that can be worth losing your life over.”

Vindicator files note there had been three previous fatal electrocutions involving copper theft since June 2006.

Detective Michael Yannucci of the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office said Monday’s case also is being investigated by the department and the coroner’s office. It is believed the man was trying to steal copper for scrap, he said.

“At this point, without having this gentleman identified, we’re not going to release a whole lot,” he said.

Police are working to identify the man. Yannucci described the man as about 35 years-old, 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 175 to 185 pounds. He has brown hair and a full goatee with multiple tattoos on his body. He has the initials “ETW” on his lower right leg and either “RTE” or “RJE” on the back of his neck with a lightning bolt on either side. He also has the word “trouble” across his back and multiple tattoos on his right arm, including a black widow spider and several skulls.

He was wearing white tennis shoes, blue jeans, a black T-shirt and a ring on his right middle finger. He also has a full set of dentures.

Anyone with information on the man’s identity is asked to call Yannucci at (330) 675-7087.

Yannucci said victims in such crimes often don’t think about the repercussions of their actions.

“Stealing anything that is connected to an electrical device is very dangerous. ... It’s hard to tell what people think at times,” he said.

Copper wiring and piping can be used to scrap for cash. But Yannucci said getting the metal is more dangerous than its worth. In addition to being illegal, the risk involved is often pricier than the reward.

“There’s nothing worth putting your life on the line for,” he said. “ If there are any types of warning signs, pay attention first and foremost. They don’t put those signs up for no reason.”

Durbin echoed Yannucci, saying: “Electricity can do a lot of wonderful things, but it can also be very dangerous. And we saw that manifest itself in the incident today.”

jmoffett@vindy.com

Electrocutions | Copper-theft deaths

A man was killed early Monday in Gustavus Township, during a purported copper theft at a power substation. The Mahoning Valley has had previous cases of people being killed during apparent attempts to remove copper wiring and piping.

Sept. 17, 2007: James Leach, 50, of Youngstown, was found at Ohio Edison’s Oak Hill Avenue substation. Police said he was killed after attempting to cut through a live electric fence.

June 13, 2006: Bruce Clearwater, 22, of Warren, and a pair of bolt cutters were found near an energized power line near NRR Properties, LLC on North River Road.

June 5, 2006: Louis McGee, 40, of Youngstown, was found at the Cold Metal Products plant in Campbell. Authorities believe he attempted to cut through a live wire and fell 25 feet to the factory floor.

Source: Vindicator files