An act of heroism from a man paying his penance to society was recognized by authorities, following the devastating tornadoes that ripped through West Kentucky, destroying a candle factory last December.
In the days and weeks after the disaster, Graves County Sheriff’s Office learned of an inmate who was on work detail at the candle factory on Dec. 10, the night of the collapse, and how he had selflessly come to the rescue of others still trapped inside.
“We learned that several people died in the rubble in very close proximity of where he had been trapped,” they stated.
“Mr. Sanchez after freeing himself, with a broken leg and cracked ribs, unselfishly went and found tools and other items and returned and re-entered the rubble and render aid to those injured and freed several others, quite possibly saving human lives.”
Escaping, Sanchez along with several other injured people hitched a ride with a volunteer firefighter to the ER, where his leg was put in a cast. Then, on release, he turned himself in to a State Trooper, who told him that they weren’t in a position to take him in at the time.
Mr. Sanchez later learned that the prison had been destroyed by the tornado, according to the sheriff’s office. So, he took refuge at a shelter, before getting in contact with jail staff who took him back into custody.
After learning of Mr. Sanchez’s heroic act from witnesses, the Graves County Sheriff’s Office informed McCracken Circuit Court sentencing judge Tim Kaltenbach of this; who then determined Mr. Sanchez had 14 days remaining on his sentence. And, on Feb. 22, 2022, the sheriff’s office formally and publicly recognized Mr. Sanchez, stating:
On Monday, March 1, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed to The Epoch Times that Mr. Sanchez was that day released from the Graves County RC Center where he was being held.
He will be needing a job and a place to live, stated the sheriff’s office, who hopes someone will take a chance on Mr. Sanchez. “He is a hard worker, as he has been assisting county government in moving offices since the tornado, and he is a very humble man,” they added. “We wish him the best and applaud him for his sense of humanity.”
