A late-night attempt to strip copper near the Labadie power plant area ended in tragedy Tuesday, when deputies found a Beaufort man dead along the 200 block of Labadie Power Plant Road on the outer edge of Ameren property, according to authorities.
Franklin County deputies identified the victim as 34-year-old Cody Lashly of Beaufort. Investigators said Lashly had been cutting copper wire from utility poles when one of the electric poles snapped and live lines came into contact with him, electrocuting him at the scene.
According to KSDK, deputies located Lashly's body at the far edge of Ameren Missouri property and saw clear signs that someone had been stripping copper from nearby poles. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has not said how Lashly managed to access the area, and investigators are still working to piece together his final movements.
How copper theft turns deadly
Copper theft from power infrastructure is a recurring and often deadly problem, since thieves are frequently cutting into live conductors and grounding components that can carry lethal voltage. In Missouri, similar incidents have left people badly burned or killed after they tried to remove energized wiring, as reported by ABC17.
Utilities repeatedly warn that any downed or energized line can arc, reach out unexpectedly, and kill or seriously injure anyone who gets too close. The public is urged never to touch or try to cut any power line or related equipment. RiverBender details Ameren Missouri's safety guidance, which emphasizes staying away from substations, poles and power lines and immediately calling the utility or 911 to report problems.
Investigation ongoing
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said it is still working to confirm the exact sequence of events and is leading the investigation, according to KSDK. An Ameren Missouri spokesperson told the station that no company employees were involved in the incident and that operations at the plant were not affected.
Authorities have not said whether any criminal charges will be pursued in connection with the attempted copper theft, leaving the case open as deputies continue to sort through what happened along that stretch of Labadie Power Plant Road.
