On August 12, 2024 the Graves County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a large theft involving a reported approximately $80,000 dollar theft of wire, from a hotel under construction just north of Mayfield. The theft occurred around 4AM that morning.
A black and white video of the suspect vehicle was recorded by an onsite camera, which showed an older model Ford Escape silver or gray in color pulling a single axle utility trailer.
Sheriff’s detectives were able to locate video surveillance video of the same vehicle during the appropriate time frame at a gas station in Benton, Kentucky. The surveillance video provided a clear picture of the suspect, the suspect vehicle, and the electrical wire that was stolen.
Search warrants to various entities were served in an attempt to identify the suspect contained in the video. With the assistance of Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, records were obtained that identified the suspect as being Dennis W. Abbott Jr., of the Whitehouse Tennessee area.
Sheriff’s detectives learned that Whitehouse has a criminal record involving theft and other offenses.
On Thursday August 22, 2024, Sheriff Jon Hayden, and Detectives S. Seaton and J. Clark travelled to the Whithouse Tennessee area to locate and arrest Abbott. With assistance from the Whitehouse Tennessee Police Department, they learned that Abbott frequents the Clarksville, White House Tenn areas, the Simpson County Kentucky area, and frequents local motels. He is suspected as being in the company of a female who is also suspected as being involved in these thefts.
Abbott is known to be traveling in one of two vehicles, a 2003 Ford Escape silver in color with Tennessee plates, or a 2011 Kia Optima maroon in color also bearing Tennessee plates. He frequents the I-65 corridor Tennessee up and into Kentucky.
Arrests warrants have been issued for 45-year-old Dennis W. Abbott Jr. on charges including theft over $10,000 dollars.
Anyone with any information as to the whereabouts of this suspect, are asked to contact the local law enforcement agency nearest you, the Graves County Kentucky Sheriff’s Office at (270) 247-4501, or the White House Tennessee Police Department at (615) 672-4915.