An investigation is underway after an individual stole from a business before setting it on fire

MAYFIELD, Ky. (KBSI) – Help is wanted in locating an individual who stole from a business in Mayfield, Kentucky before setting it on fire.

According to the Mayfield Police Department on October 7, 2024, the Mayfield Police Department, along with the Mayfield Fire Department, responded to Mayfield Water & Electric located at 812 W. Farthing Street for a structure fire.

After the fire was put out officers reviewed security camera footage, and it was determined that an individual intentionally set fire to the business.

The arsonist stole numerous items from Mayfield Water & Electric’s trucks along with items from inside the business.

That person being their prime suspect now the search is on for a suspect accused of setting the business on fire, stealing two vehicles and disappearing all in about 3 hours.

Kristie McAdoo is the Accounting Finance Manager for Mayfield Water and Electric. She did not want to be on camera but did tell us more about this case. 

McAdoo says no customers were impacted but the company did lose a lot of inventory. 

“I was really just kind of disturbed by it because we had a tornado about three years ago and we lost everything and most of our building and everything and this internet building specifically had the least amount of damage on it,” said McAdoo. 

She says that is has been emotional for employees and managers, but the biggest loss was a bucket truck that was allegedly set on fire. 

McAdoo says the suspect stole two trucks, setting one on fire and driving the other into a field. 

One bucket truck is still drivable, but the other one is burnt to a crisp. 

The company is borrowing transportation from the Electric Department for internet installments. 

“I am just so thankful that no one was hurt in the fire as far as our employees and everything.”

McAdoo says she has no reason to believe that the man responsible for this is a former employee who is frustrated with the company.

Authorities are chasing down leads. 

Nathan Young is the Detective Sergeant for Mayfield Police Department. He has been on the case from the beginning.

Young believes the suspect was intent on causing chaos for three hours straight. 

“Around one in the morning and subject entered the fence area, he went through trucks and trailers, eventually left in a bucket truck, came back with a bucket truck, got into another truck at the building on fire came back again set it on fire again to make sure and then left again,” said Young.

Luckily this entire event is on video, and the police are asking the public to help them identify the suspect if they know anything. 

“Once we went through the video footage, we knew then they use some gasoline as an accelerant,” said Young.

The suspect left in a stolen bucket truck, but returned back to the scene, and stole another truck, before leaving the area. The stolen truck was later recovered in a field not far from the incident. Some of the stolen items were also recovered in that area as well. Physical evidence was collected along with the security video.

The video has been sent to the Secret Service for enhancement. Other evidence will be sent to the Kentucky State Police laboratory for DNA testing.

Attached is one of the snapshots of the suspect. If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact Crimestoppers at (270) 443-TELL or Detectives at the Mayfield Police Department at (270) 247-1621.