Kentucky Inmate Who Saved Lives After Tornado Destroyed Candle Factory Recognized by Sheriff’s Office

Kentucky Inmate Who Saved Lives After Tornado Destroyed Candle Factory Recognized by Sheriff’s Office
Courtesy of Graves County Sheriff's Office
Epoch Inspired Staff
Updated:

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.

Reportedly, one Mr. Marco Sanchez had been caught in the collapsed building, suffered a broken leg and cracked ribs, but managed to find a small void in the rubble, the Sheriff’s Office stated in a press release. He then crawled to safety, despite his injuries.

“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.”

(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068235378126">Graves County Sheriff's Office</a>)

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:

Mr. Sanchez had a lot of decisions to make that night. He could have made the decision to only save himself, but he didn’t. His actions likely resulted in other lives being saved. The series of decisions he made over the next several hours were the right decisions and we applaud you for that sir.

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.”

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Epoch Inspired Staff
Epoch Inspired Staff
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Epoch Inspired staff cover stories of hope that celebrate kindness, traditions, and triumph of the human spirit, offering valuable insights into life, culture, family and community, and nature.
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