Mayfield was only about an hour from where I grew up so I keep up with the news around that area. I think this story is awesome.
quote:
Mayfield, Ky.–Graves County Sheriff Jon Hayden has presented an inmate with a Meritorious Award for his actions during and after the tornado smashed into Mayfield and Graves County December 10, 2021.
“Today we would like to recognize a man, who went above and beyond on the night of December 10, 2021,” Hayden said during his presentation for Marco Sanches, an inmate who was on work detail at the Candle Factory which was destroyed in the tornado.
Despite his own injuries, which included a broken leg and cracked ribs, Sanchez worked to save others trapped in the rubble.
Hayden said, “Days and weeks after the deadly tornado, I and others began hearing about an inmate who worked feverishly at the Candle factory site pulling victims from the rubble and rendered aid to others that were trapped and injured. In passing, I continued hearing about this unnamed inmate to the point that it aroused my curiosity.
I requested an inquiry from some of the jail staff into the veracity of what we had been hearing.”
After investigation, Hayden said, “We learned from some witnesses that the inmate in question was in fact Mr. Marco Sanchez and that he was inside the candle factory building when it collapsed. He was trapped and suffered a broken leg and cracked ribs. He managed to find a small void in the rubble, and was able to crawl out to safety, despite his injuries.”
“We learned that several people died in the rubble in very close proximity of where he had been trapped,” Hayden said.
“Mr. Sanchez after freeing himself, with a broken leg and cracked ribs, unselfishly went and found tools and other items and returned and re-entered the rubble and render aid to those injured and freed several others, quite possibly saving human lives.”
Hayden said, “At some point afterwards, he along with several other injured people caught a ride with a volunteer firefighter to the emergency room. After several hours of receiving treatment for his injuries and a leg cast, he was released from the hospital. Mr. Sanchez happened to see a state trooper at the hospital. He went up to the trooper and told him that he was an inmate and needed to turn himself in. The trooper told him that with everything going on, that he was not in a position to help him at that moment, and to do the right thing.”
Mr. Sanchez found a shuttle bus that took him to a shelter that had been put in place, after he learned that the jail had been destroyed. Once arriving at the shelter, he was put in contact with jail staff whom at that time took him back into custody.
Hayden said, “We made the sentencing Judge, McCracken Circuit Judge Tim Kaltenbach aware of Mr. Sanchez actions, and a hearing took place last week in McCracken Circuit Court. During the hearing, the Judge determined that Mr. Sanchez only had 14 days to serve remaining on his sentence. Instead of receiving a shock probation on his sentence, Mr. Sanchez chose to complete his sentence, and is scheduled for release on March 01, 2022.”
“Mr. Sanchez had a lot of decisions to make that night. He could have made the decision to only save himself, but he didn’t. His actions likely resulted in other lives being saved. The series of decisions he made over the next several hours were the right decisions and we applaud you for that sir,” Hayden said to Sanchez.
Several community leaders attended the presentation today including Judge Exec. Jesse Perry. Mayor Kathy O’Nan, Police Chief Nathan Kent, Jailer George Workman,, county commissioners Todd Hayden, and Richie Galloway.
Sanchez will be released from jail on March 01, 2022. Hayden said, “He will be looking for a job, and a place to live. We hope someone will take a chance on him and give him an opportunity to start a new life. He is a hard worker, as he has been assisting county government in moving offices since the tornado, and he is a very humble man. We wish him the best and applaud him for his sense of humanity.”
