A Smithfield Foods employee was found dead early Monday morning following a workplace incident at the company’s processing plant along U.S. Route 34 in Monmouth, Ill.
Warren County Coroner Al McGuire identified the victim as 44-year-old Patou M. Mpinda of Monmouth. According to McGuire, Mpinda was discovered at 2:31 a.m. by a plant maintenance crew searching for him.
Ray Atkinson, senior director of external affairs for Smithfield Foods, confirmed the fatal workplace accident and stated the company informed the facility’s workforce Monday morning.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with our co-worker’s family and we are fully committed to supporting our employees in this difficult time,” Atkinson said.
Addressing conflicting media reports regarding plant operations following the incident, Atkinson clarified that workers were given the option to leave: “We told them we understood that this is difficult and that taking the day off was an option for them. Some of our employees took the day, and that is certainly understandable.”
Smithfield Foods is cooperating with local authorities and regulatory agencies to investigate the cause of the fatal incident.
