The owner of a Warsaw tree service has been charged with second degree manslaughter, after authorities say his reckless conduct caused the death of an employee.
Ken Murtha was charged by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office in connection with the death of Cecil Beardslee-West. The 84-year-old Murtha owns Ken’s Tree Service until his recent retirement. Beardslee-West was killed while working for Murtha back in May.
Deputies said he was holding a metal chain connected to a crane moving logs, when the crane touched an overhead power line and he was electrocuted.
Murtha was arraigned and released on $1,000 bail.