A Kentucky inmate who was working at a candle factory that collapsed in Friday’s devastating tornado is now in the wind after fleeing a local hospital later in the day, authorities said.
Francisco Starks, 44, who was at MCP Candle Factory in Mayfield as part of a work release program, was injured in the twister and subsequently treated at Jackson Purchase Medical Center, according to Kentucky State Police.
The inmate was then released and last seen walking away from the hospital.
Starks was incarcerated at the Graves County Jail for multiple charges, including burglary and theft by unlawful taking of an automobile.
Dozens of Kentucky residents lost their lives in the tornado. Some of the victims were working at the same facility as Starks.
Rescue crews have been trying to locate additional survivors at the factory.
A spokesman for the candle company on Sunday night said eight people had died, eight others were missing and 90 people had been located.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear also gave an update on Sunday afternoon where he announced the state’s death toll might be as low as 50 — after indicating earlier in the day the number of deaths could exceed 100.
“We are praying that maybe original estimates of those we have lost were wrong. If so, it’s going to be pretty wonderful,” the governor said.
The tornado that leveled the factory was part of a deadly outbreak of twisters across five states.
Casualties have been reported in all the states impacted by the storm, including six people in Illinois, four in Tennessee, two in Arkansas and two in Missouri.
With Post wires