Body found identified as St. Charles man

Police on Tuesday identified the charred body of a 30-year-old St. Charles man who was electrocuted to death, apparently while trying to steal copper from a high-voltage electrical switch on the city's west side.

A patrol officer made the grisly discovery shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday, when he went to investigate what appeared to be a body lying facedown on the fully charged, 4,160-volt switch on the 300 block of North Sixth Street.

Police said it appears Robert J. Paluch, of the 1300 block of Lancaster Avenue, scaled a 6-foot barbed-wire fence in order to steal copper wiring from the switch. A hacksaw and hammer were found near his body, and there were cut marks on the wiring.

"It's hard to say for sure (about the possible theft) because there were no witnesses," police spokesman Paul McCurtain said.

Authorities removed the body after shutting down power to the switch, which was part of an old industrial site known as Applied Composites. The Kane County coroner's office then used dental records and photographs to identify the victim, whose vehicle was found parked near the scene.

An autopsy Monday determined the preliminary cause of death was electrocution, the coroner's office said. Toxicology tests and a full inquest are pending.

Though tragic, McCurtain said, the incident should serve as a warning to others who might consider the increasingly common crime of stealing scrap metal and wiring for resale purposes.

"It's very dangerous," he said. "We strongly encourage people to stay away from electrical wiring."

Samantha Smith of St. Charles Scrap said the salvage yard on Powis Road in West Chicago was giving $2.30 or more for a pound of scrap copper Tuesday, depending on the quality and amount. She said sellers are required by law to show identification.

According to court records, Paluch had a history of theft and trespass. He was found guilty in 2005 of residential burglary in DuPage County, and guilty of trespass on a railroad property in 2003, also in DuPage County.

Authorities notified relatives of his death Monday night, police said.