Factory employee traps co-worker in 200-degree steam room, Kentucky cops say

A woman went unconscious when her factory co-worker intentionally locked her inside a room that sprayed 200-degree steam, Kentucky authorities say.

The incident happened March 5 at a Land O’ Frost plant in Madisonville and led to charges against 23-year-old Barrett Korinta, according to the Madisonville Police Department.

Korinta and the victim were working together in the rack wash room of the factory, and he told the woman he could close her inside, police said.

She objected to his comment, but Korinta closed the door on the victim and trapped her inside by latching its lock, according to a criminal complaint.

Korinta then turned on the machine, causing chemicals and 200-degree steam to spray with the woman trapped inside, police said. She later told investigators she had “no means of escaping” when the machine was turned on.

She shut down the machine with an emergency switch in the room, but police said she became unconscious and fell to the floor.

The victim was hospitalized with minor injuries to her face and head, and was treated for a concussion the next day, according to police.

Madisonville Police Public Information Officer Jason McKnight told WEVV it’s unclear why Korinta locked his co-worker inside the room or if he did it as a joke.

“We don’t know if it was malicious or if it was just one of those things where you’re not really thinking things through,” McKnight told the outlet. “But at the end of the day, she was put in there against her will, locked in, and somehow the machine was started.”

Korinta was charged with wanton endangerment and unlawful imprisonment, according to court records, which also say he was fired.

Madisonville is about a 150-mile drive southwest from Louisville.

This story was originally published March 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM with the headline "Factory employee traps co-worker in 200-degree steam room, Kentucky cops say."