2021-11-02 Coroner UpdateCoroner Update
November 2, 2021
11:30 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Swope, Austin Majors, Katie Conradi, Warren McLeod
Guest: Nic Scott
Recorder: Tammy Martin
Warren McLeod provided the following year-to-date statistics:
• Deaths: 785 total cases
• Homicides: 1
• Suicides: 8
• Accidental deaths: 31
• Undetermined: 7
Warren said cases year-to-date are higher than of 2020 year-to-date. There have been 3 recent suicides
involving individuals under the age of 18. Warren said his office is case driven. Professional services
expenditures include removals and they have averaged of over 30 removals in a month. If they did not
contract with a mortuary, they would need to purchase 2 vehicles costing approximately $70,000, then
an additional $10,000 would need to be spent to outfit the vehicles with gurneys and canopies. The
contract the Coroner’s Office has with the mortuary covers 2 vehicles and an on-call staff that is
available 24 hours a day. If the Coroner’s Office did removals, 2 additional people would need to be on
call 24 hours a day. The Coroner’s Office averages 50 autopsies per year and for 2021 year-to-date are
currently performing number 51. These autopsies are not COVID related as those are processed
differently through the hospital. Commissioner Swope asked to consider the cost of a removal crew by
the mortuary versus the Coroner’s Office. Warren doesn’t feel the investigators should have to focus on
a removal.
Meth still remains the lead cause of drug-related deaths. Warren said they are currently undergoing a
public disclosure request (PDR) for any and all opioid related deaths. This is a PDR for all 39 counties.
Warren said there were 17 unclaimed remains that were interred during the ceremony at the Pioneer
Cemetery. Each of the remains were unclaimed by family. This included remains from 2020. This
ceremony also included the commemoration of the 110th anniversary deaths of “the girls” at Imperial
Explosive.
Meeting ended at 11:52 a.m.