Dallas Fire-Rescue officials investigate an apparent elecrocution on Lahoma Street in Oak Lawn this morning. The man’s body was found on the opposite side of the fence from where the investigators are standing. Part of the power line that is believed to have killed the man can be seen dangling from the tree above. (John Wright/Dallas Voice)
A unidentified man found dead in Oak Lawn this morning likely crossed crime-scene tape surrounding a downed power line and was electrocuted, according to Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans.
Evans said Fire Rescue crews responded to a report of a downed power line at the Sycamore Tree Apartments, at 5051 Lahoma St., at 10:08 p.m. Tuesday. They cordoned off the area around the power line and waited for crews from Oncor to arrive.
While the area was cordoned off, a resident of the apartment complex wondered into it and was apparently electrocuted, Evans said. The victim’s roommate told authorities they had been out drinking at a bar. The roommate had gone to bed when the victim, whose identity has not been confirmed, went outside. He wasn’t found until shortly before 7 this morning by someone from the apartment complex’s management.
“Based on statements that we’ve gathered from one lady that claimed she heard a scream, and the alleged roommate who claims that they came home after drinking … that puts him inside the perimeter after we had already established it,” Evans told Instant Tea. “We pretty much sat on the lines all night, outside the apartment gate. Apparently sometime between then and this morning that person walked through the perimeter and ended up like he was this morning.”
The victim was found just inside a wrought-iron fence surrounding the 96-unit complex, in a backyard area between an apartment unit and a wall that runs along the pool. A neighbor said most of the people who live in the area are gay. The victim is believed to be a member of the LGBT community, and Instant Tea is working to confirm his identity.
Evans said the Medical Examiner’s Office, which removed the man’s body this morning, will determine an official cause of death.
The tree that took out the power line was felled by a strong thunderstorm that moved through the area on Tuesday night. The storm cut a swath across north Oak Lawn from Love Field to Highland Park.
More photos and a video report from Fox 4 below.
UPDATE: The victim has been identified as 35-year-old Robert Ragan, and the Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed that Ragan died from accidental electrocution.
Ragan was gay and has been active in the local bear and leather communities, as well as the United Court system, according to reports. He had also worked as a gay porn actor/model who went by the name Robert Elephante.
According to his Facebook profile, Ragan graduated from Mesquite High School in 1994 and the University of Texas at Dallas in 2006, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
A man listed as Ragan’s boyfriend on Facebook couldn’t immediately be reached.
The man’s body was found in the area where this tree limb fell.
More downed trees at the Sycamore Tree Apartments.
Fire Chief Eddie Burns talks on his cell phone while he surveys the scene from across the street.
Here’s what’s left of the tree.
Man Killed during Storms in Oak Lawn Area of Dallas: MyFoxDFW.com
RIP Robert Ragan.We will always miss you.
Evans is full of sh*t.He is just trying to cover his a**.Early reports that he was wearing just shorts and went to check on his car so we know he wasn’t just out drinking.Also if there had been a area cordon off he would not have put himself in danger just to check on his car.Shame on Evans for trying blame the victim and trying to deflect any responsibility from his company.
if someone heard a scream at 1040 or so, maybe the guy was struck by a limb and then was electrocuted, poor guy. also what the hell does it matter if most of the residents are gay or in a gay neighborhood? i lived at sycamore tree and unless you had a kitchen entrance you had to enter from the front of the buildings and enter through a common door entry.R.I.P.
I don’t know the whole story but Robert, the guy who was killed was a friend of mine, we dated about 2 years ago and it is a shame that he is gone. i hope and pray that his mother and family will be comforted through all of this. I am still in shock over the situation. R.I.P. Robert
It’s the police’s fault for not securing the area very well and keep it under surveillance.
and WTF…”alleged” roommate? exactly what is he implying? I’m pretty sure that if they were more than roomies, he would have said…most of us have nothing to hide in this neighborhood…and most of us refuse to hide it anywhere else…this Evans guy seems like a real piece of work…and Ronnie I agree with you, he is just trying to cover his own a**
Really, if they stayed all night to secure the area, were they sleeping. Did they check the area before they put up the tape. If the Fire Dept is securing the area, the Police leave to take care of the rest of the City and the problems arriving fom the storm. I do not understand why he was trying to tiptoe around the issue of who all lives in the area. What in the hell does that matter. If there were reports at 1040 of someone screaming and they had already put up the tape, did no one want to get wet and check to see if someone had wandered in the area. I think he is attempting to cover his a**. I believe an investigation of what really happened should take place. I’m just saying.
I AGREE RONNIE…RONNIE IS MY BROTHER AND I WAS MARRIED TO THE VICTIM TWICE. HE WAS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE FOR MANY YEARS BUT OUR LIVES WERENT MEANT TO COME TOGETHER COMPLETELY IN THE NORMAL SENSE…I DID NOTICE ROBERT HAD HIS PARTNER LISTED ON HIS FACE BOOK BUT THE PARTNER DIDNT HAVE ROBERT AS ANYTHING BUT FRIEND ON HIS…ROBERT WAS A VERY CARING PERSON AND HELPED MANY PEOPLE IN HIS LIFE. HE HAS BEEN DAD TO HIS BIOLOGICAL SON AND MY SONS MOST OF THEIR LIVES…MY SON ROBERT, IS IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TIL SUNDAY NITH. IT IS SO SAD HE WONT KNOW ANYTHING TIL THEN. HE WILL BE REALLY UPSET. ROBERT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DAD TO HIM….I AM DEVISTATED AS IS ALL HIS FAMILY…I AM MUCH OLDER THAN ROBERT…I WAS NEVER SUPPOSE TO END THIS WAY…I WAS SUPPOSE TO GO FIRST…I LOVE AND MISS U SO MUCH ROBERT
Um, BDUB77.
I believe they are implying that at the time this article went live they were unable to confirm that this other person IS the roommate, and is therefore the “alleged” roommate.