A Calhoun County man is dead after sheriff’s office officials say he was electrocuted while attempting to illegally obtain electricity.

Sheriff Matthew Wade said that the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a human skull in the front yard of a residence in the Cedar Springs Community at around 7:00 Friday morning. 

The homeowner was leaving his residence when he observed the skull.  Deputies searched the area and discovered a body at a residence approximately two-tenths of a mile away.  The body was at the bottom of a power pole and badly decomposed.  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 that deceased individual 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 residence belonged to Randall Stephens of Cedar Springs Road, and the remains have been identified as the homeowner.  Stephens was released from the Calhoun County Jail on May 16, 2019, where he had been incarcerated since October 2018.  When Stephens was arrested in October, his residence was receiving power by illegal means such as jumping the power lines.

Electricity is extremely dangerous for trained professionals not to mention individuals that have no training or proper equipment.  Not only is stealing power illegal it is deadly.