2020-07-14 Coroner UpdateCoroner Update
July 14, 2020
9:30 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson, County Manager Erik Martin, Warren McLeod,
Stephen Wilson, Dawn Harris, Lara McRea, Becky Butler (9:50 a.m.)
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Coroner Warren McLeod provided year-to-date statistics: one homicide, 12 suicides, 17 accidental
deaths, five pending cases and one public assist.
Warren said the Coroner’s Office has performed 11 COVID-19 tests on decedents and that none tested
positive for the disease.
Warren said that of the 17 accidental deaths, 13 were drug overdoses: 10 were meth, one was heroin
and two are pending.
Warren discussed fentanyl and methamphetamine trends as well as a new drug called “monster.”
Warren said the office has dealt with 15 cases involving individuals under age 35. He discussed the stress
on staff. He noted that he has six casual employees. He said his office needs four full-time employees
and one part-time employee to cover 168 hours per week.
The group discussed the time and costs of COVID-19 testing.
Becky Butler joined at 9:50 a.m.
Becky discussed tracking any and all expenses incurred due to the coronavirus.
Warren said the county usually has 30 toxicology tests per year and already is at 20. He and Becky
discussed increased workloads due to increased deaths, which can be traced to fallout related to COVID-
19.
Meeting ended at 10:06 a.m.