Man Electrocuted While Stealing Copper Wire from Utility Poles

A suspected copper theft in Missouri ended in a shocking and deadly disaster after a man was electrocuted while allegedly attempting to strip live wires from a utility pole — and investigators say his accomplice left him behind.

Deputies with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office rushed to the 200 block of Labadie Power Plant Road around 10:40 a.m. on March 22 after a power line inspector, checking on an outage, made a grim discovery: a man lying unresponsive near damaged utility equipment.

Authorities later identified the victim as 34-year-old Cody J. Lashly of Beaufort. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

What investigators uncovered next painted a chilling picture.

According to officials, Lashly had been attempting to cut copper wire from active utility lines — a dangerous and often deadly crime that has surged in recent years due to rising metal prices. At the scene, deputies found a power tool still attached to a pole, a snapped utility structure, and live wires strewn across the area — all pointing to a catastrophic electrocution.

But Lashly wasn’t alone.

A broken vehicle mirror recovered nearby led investigators to surveillance footage showing a Dodge Ram truck arriving with two people — and leaving with just one. The truck appeared damaged in a way that matched evidence found at the scene.

That clue quickly led authorities to 41-year-old Jerry A. Hendrickson of Robertsville.

When taken into custody on March 24, Hendrickson allegedly admitted to driving Lashly to the site and positioning his truck to help him reach the wires. Investigators say Lashly climbed into the truck bed and began cutting into the lines — triggering a deadly chain reaction that caused a pole to break and live wires to strike him.

Instead of calling for help, Hendrickson allegedly told authorities he panicked and drove off after realizing Lashly was unresponsive.

Now, he’s facing a growing list of charges.

Prosecutors have charged Hendrickson with abandonment of a corpse, attempted theft of $750 or more, and damage to a critical infrastructure facility. A no-bond warrant has been issued for his arrest, and officials warn even more charges could be on the way.

“This investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges are expected,” Franklin County Sheriff Steven M. Pelton said.

The case underscores the extreme risks tied to copper theft — a crime that can turn deadly in seconds when live electrical lines are involved.