Reward offered in case of electrocuted Santa Fe teen
By Lea Wilson - Digital News Editor , Aaron Barker - Sr. Web Editor
Posted: Updated: 1:17 PM, September 08, 2016
SANTA FE, Texas - Galveston County Crime Stoppers and CenterPoint Energy is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who cut down a CenterPoint Energy pole that led to a man's death.
The pole was cut down near Santa Fe High School off of Highway 6.
A missing Santa Fe man was found electrocuted in a field on Aug 24. near the downed pole, according to deputies.
According to the Galveston County Sheriff's Office, 19-year-old Mason Curlee was reported missing by his mother. She said he went fishing and never returned.
Deputies said, Curlee's vehicle was found abandoned close to a wooded area where ponds are located in the 1600 block of Highway 6.
Deputies, police, search dogs, family and friends began searching for Curlee. His body was found about 9:45 p.m. in a field near a pond, deputies said.
Investigators said they believe Curlee was electrocuted when he tried to crawl under a low-hanging power line.
Foul play is not suspected in Curlee's death, investigators said.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (409)763-TIPS.
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Santa Fe teen killed in apparent accidental electrocution
1600 TX 6 Alvin TX
Posted: Friday, August 26, 2016 3:45 pm
By CHACOUR KOOP The Daily News
A Santa Fe teenager was found dead Thursday, apparently from electrocution, after his family reported him missing.
The mother of Mason Curlee, 19, reported him missing when he didn’t return home from fishing Wednesday, authorities said.
Galveston County Sheriff’s Office deputies, the Santa Fe Police Department K-9 unit and Curlee’s friends and relatives searched for him throughout the day. About 4:30 p.m., searchers found Curlee’s car, which was locked and had personal belongings inside, near the 1600 block of state Highway 6, authorities said.
Members of the sheriff’s office also searched the heavily wooded area with a helicopter owned by a local company, Sheriff Henry Trochesset said.
About 9:45 p.m., Curlee’s body was found near a pond about 200 yards from his car. He was lying by a downed electric line, which appeared to still be receiving power, Trochesset said. Curlee’s fishing pole was by his body, Trochesset said.
Investigators believe Curlee was electrocuted when he crawled under the low-lying wire, authorities said. The Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office will perform an autopsy.
“It’s a very tragic accident,” Trochesset said. Contact reporter Chacour Koop at 409-683-5241 or chacour.koop@galvnews.com
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$25K reward offered after teen electrocuted in Santa Fe area
SANTA FE, TX (KTRK) --
Investigators
say the Galveston County teen who was electrocuted two weeks ago didn't
die from an accident. Detectives are now searching for the person they
believe killed the teen, when he or she cut down power lines.
Mason Curlee, 19, was electrocuted, his body found near live power lines in a remote area off Highway 6 near Santa Fe High School. It's a popular fishing spot. Curlee died doing what he loved: fishing.
"I feel like I'm going to wake up some day. I haven't done it so far," said Danny Curlee, Mason's father.
One week ago, the teen's family said goodbye. They buried Curlee and are now in the process of picking out a headstone.
Two weeks after his tragic death, investigators now believe this was a criminal act. Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset says someone cut down the CenterPoint Energy pole, cut the electric lines, stripped them and stole copper.
"We have a great problem here in Galveston county, throughout Texas and probably the nation,
Trochesset said. "Individuals stealing precious metal and selling it for scrap. Pennies on the dollar. But in this case it led to the death of a 19 year-old who just wanted to go fishing."
Who did this? Galveston County Crimestoppers and CenterPoint are offering a 25,000 dollar reward to anyone who can help detectives find that person.
"He was probably very knowledgeable in electrical because we're surprised he wasn't found deceased at the same location," Trochesset said.
The sheriff said CenterPoint never knew the lines were cut because they powered an abandoned house. They were still live when Curlee's body was found.
Curlee's parents say they're not angry. They're just sad. They want whoever did this caught, so another family isn't torn apart.
"If they're caught, they need to be prosecuted. But at this time, I can only deal with trying to get through what I have to get through," said Danny Curlee.
If you have any information on this case, call Crimestoppers at 409-763-TIPS (8477).