How not to steal metal

Again, this could qualify for a Doofus Of The Day post, except that the perpetrator was killed in the process. I won't add insult to terminal injury. Nevertheless, he asked for all he got . . .

Trumbull County sheriff's detectives said they used identifying marks on the body of an electrocuted man to identity him after he was burned nearly beyond recognition in an apparent attempted copper theft.

About 2,000 customers lost power when he sawed through an electrical connection at a substation early Monday at the intersection of Gardner Barclay and Stoddard Hayes Roads, deputies said.

The man was identified as Robert Travis Eakin, 30, of 6880 state Route 45, Bristol Township, through ''networking between officers in different departments,'' according to Detective Mike Yannucci.

Yannucci stopped short of saying tattoos were used as the identifying marks. He had tattoos of a skull and flames on one of his forearms and the word ''trouble'' tattooed on the back of one of his shoulders.

. . .

Yannucci said detectives and power company representatives believe Eakin sawed through a thick electrical connection at the base of the substation and was electrocuted on the final saw stroke through the connection when his body became the ground for the considerable amount of electricity.

Mark Durbin, a spokseman for the electric company, said he estimates Eakin could have been hit with as much as 12,000 volts.

''The investigation is continuing. It's not likely he tried to do this without help,'' Yannucci said.

Eakin, commonly known as Travis, had bonded out of Trumbull County Jail on Wednesday, two days before celebrating his 30th birthday. He had been released prior to a Warren Municipal Court hearing set for Thursday on charges of receiving stolen property and domestic violence.

The damage to the substation caused a power surge that started fires at the site and in various homes. Officials said there was no significant fire damage at many of the homes, but many household appliances and electronic devices like televisions and computers were damaged during a power surge.

There's more at the link.

Given his tattoos, one might speculate that Mr. Eakin's death was the result of a self-fulfilling and graphically illustrated prophecy!

Peter