A skull found in the front yard of a Calhoun County home early Friday has been identified as the resident who authorities say died while trying to steal power.

Sheriff Matthew Wade identified the victim as 56-year-old Randall Stephens. He was released from the Calhoun County Jail on May 16, where he had been behind bars since October 2018 on drug and gun charges. At the time of his arrest last year, the sheriff said, Stephens was receiving power by illegal means.

The discovery of Stephens’ remains was made about 7 a.m. Friday when deputies received a report of a human skull in the front yard of a residence in the Cedar Springs Community. The homeowner was leaving his residence when he observed the skull.

Deputies searched the area and discovered the body at a residence approximately two-tenths of a mile away. The body was at the bottom of a power pole and badly decomposed, Wade said.

There was a ladder next the power pole and there was a belt and jumper cables at the top of the pole. The investigation concluded Stephens was attempting to illegally gain power to his residence by jumping the power lines. Alabama Power responded to the scene to help with the investigation and render the power pole safe.

The sheriff said he doesn’t yet know when Stephens died, but said nobody had reported him missing. They believe he died shortly after his jail release.

Electricity, he said, is extremely dangerous for trained professionals not to mention individuals that have no training or proper equipment. “Respect electricity,’’ Wade said. “Not only is stealing power illegal it is deadly.”