Graves Co., Ky.–A Dresden woman who was set to appear for sentencing for stealing peoples’ possessions after the Mayfield tornado is being sought by the Graves County Sheriff’s Office. She had been identified as the ringleader of a theft ring which preyed on tornado victims.
Linda K. Morris, age 53, of Dresden, had plead guilty to the theft charges in Graves Circuit Court and was scheduled to be sentenced to 8 years in prison on February 03, 2023. She was out on bond and failed to appear in court, jumping bail. She is also currently wanted on outstanding charges in Ballard and Fulton County Kentucky.
She is a white female, 5’7, weighing approx 200 lbs.
According to Graves Co. Sheriff Jon Hayden, just eight days after the December 10, 2021 tornado that struck Mayfield and Graves County, several suspects were arrested for stealing tornado damaged vehicles from an area that was especially hit hard. The Cardinal and Pritchett Road areas. This was also an area that suffered numerous deaths.
Hayden said, “Extra sheriff’s patrols had been set up in this area due to numerous thefts and looting being reported. Calloway County Chief Deputy Jody Cash (whom has since been murdered and killed in the line of duty) was in our county assisting with these extra patrols, reported seeing several tornado damaged vehicles being towed out of the area on Pritchett Road and approaching US Hwy 45 South.”
Graves and Calloway Sheriff’s units, and KSP troopers stopped the convoy of vehicles. It was found that the vehicles were all in fact stolen from victims homes that were destroyed in the tornado, that had been displaced by the tornado, still currently in the hospital from injuries suffered during the tornado, or that were killed. Other items recovered from the suspects and the vehicles were items that included a variety of personal items belonging to tornado victims, including some household goods, new shoes, muddy change, copper wiring and other items.
All suspects arrested in this case has had their cases adjudicated with the exception of this suspect who had been identified as the ringleader of the theft ring.