Downstate man burned during wire theft dies

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — A southwestern Illinois man has died two months after being severely burned while allegedly trying to steal wire from an Ameren electrical substation.

Madison County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Brad Wells says 30-year-old Dusty Austin of Alton died Saturday at a hospital.

Austin was found injured June 12 by deputies responding to reports that he was naked and screaming for help near the Alton substation. Authorities say his clothes had been burned or blown off.

Wells said then that Austin had been trying to steal copper electrical wire from the site, although Austin was never charged because of his injuries.

Prosecutors later charged a 32-year-old East Alton man with a felony count of damaging fencing and wire at the substation while with Austin during the incident.