A skull found in the front yard of a Calhoun County home early Friday has been identified as the resident who authorities say died while trying to steal power.
Sheriff Matthew Wade identified the victim as 56-year-old Randall Stephens. He was released from the Calhoun County Jail on May 16, where he had been behind bars since October 2018 on drug and gun charges. At the time of his arrest last year, the sheriff said, Stephens was receiving power by illegal means.
The discovery of Stephens’ remains was made about 7 a.m. Friday when deputies received a report of a human skull in the front yard of a residence in the Cedar Springs Community. The homeowner was leaving his residence when he observed the skull.
Deputies searched the area and discovered the body at a residence approximately two-tenths of a mile away. The body was at the bottom of a power pole and badly decomposed, Wade said.
There was a ladder next the power pole and there was a belt and jumper cables at the top of the pole. The investigation concluded Stephens was attempting to illegally gain power to his residence by jumping the power lines. Alabama Power responded to the scene to help with the investigation and render the power pole safe.
The sheriff said he doesn’t yet know when Stephens died, but said nobody had reported him missing. They believe he died shortly after his jail release.
Electricity, he said, is extremely dangerous for trained professionals not to mention individuals that have no training or proper equipment. “Respect electricity,’’ Wade said. “Not only is stealing power illegal it is deadly.”
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed. Luke 11:21
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Did I read it correctly, his head was 2/10th of a mile away from his body? They specifically said skull which I interpret as no flesh. Did an animal get to him or did his head fly off after the big zap?
Posts: 5499 | Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA | Registered: February 27, 2001
We had a guy try this in Atlanta at his duplex once. The smell was the worst.
Well that, and where he was sprayed onto the side of the place. Good times...
Posts: 9624 | Location: Somewhere looking for ammo that nobody has at a place I haven't been to for a pistol I couldn't live without... | Registered: December 02, 2014
Originally posted by gpbst3: Did I read it correctly, his head was 2/10th of a mile away from his body? They specifically said skull which I interpret as no flesh. Did an animal get to him or did his head fly off after the big zap?
Have the same question...
I bet he hit the ground with a jolt.
"If you’re a leader, you lead the way. Not just on the easy ones; you take the tough ones too…” – MAJ Richard D. Winters (1918-2011), E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil... Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel." - Isaiah 5:20,24
The sheriff said he doesn’t yet know when Stephens died, but said nobody had reported him missing. They believe he died shortly after his jail release.
Well, at least we now know his current whereabouts. The whole thing was entirely his own volt. Even if he'd been arrested at the time, he would have had no resistance to the charge of theft. Paying a utility company to light up his ohm was the last thing he wanted.
Posts: 11538 | Location: UK, OR, ONT | Registered: July 10, 2003
