The week in which January 29th falls was chosen as National Coroner and Medicolegal Death Investigator Week as this is the date Thomas Baldridge, a Maryland colony resident, was appointed by King Charles I as the first coroner in what is now the United States.
Death investigators perform a critical and often overlooked function in our society. Deputy Coroner Investigators respond to a variety of calls; seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Shasta County Coroner’s Office primary mission is to conduct complete and objective medicolegal investigations of unattended, violent, unexpected, and suspicious deaths in order to determine the cause, manner and circumstances of death. This duty is of the utmost importance to the family member of the deceased individual(s), the safety of our community, and the pursuit of justice.
The Shasta County Coroner’s Office utilizes four Deputy Coroner Investigators (DCI), responsible for covering all of Shasta County which is over 3,800 square miles. The DCI work closely with the Redding Police Department, Anderson Police Department, Cal FIRE, California Highway Patrol, Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, and local funeral homes.
In addition to death investigation work, a DCI is also trained in and receives assigned duties such as collecting tissue and toxicology samples, and providing hands-on assistance to the Forensic Pathologist.
In 2017, the Coroner’s office investigated a total of 948 deaths, 339 of which were deemed to be Coroner’s cases which require extensive investigation. Of the remaining 609 cases, 596 of those were deemed Information cases, which often require a limited investigation, service to the family, inquiries sent to local physicians and health care facilities, and mortuaries. During 2017, the Coroner’s Office also provided assistance to Trinity County including autopsies, pathology related issues and general information. Sheriff Saxon of Trinity County writes “the staff at your Coroner’s Division is second to none”.
In 2018, Shasta County was impacted by three major wildfires, the largest of which was the Carr Fire. The Coroner’s Office responded to loss of life situations including their deceased comrades. Later in 2018, when Butte County was hit by the catastrophic Camp Fire, our Coroner’s Office promptly deployed two DCI’s to Butte County and they spent two weeks in the wake of the aftermath to help identify victims and bring closure to the families.
Of particular note is the role the Coroner’s Office played in honoring our local fallen firefighters. It is emotionally devastating for the community at large when one of our own First Responders dies in the line of fire; the particular devastation endured by our Last Responders (i.e. Deputy Coroner Investigators) when tasked with the honorable care of their deceased comrades, those with whom they have laughed and worked -- is a trauma not easily seen nor considered, but certainly takes its toll on the men and women who have honorably served as Deputy Coroner Investigators.
We are appreciative of the dedicated group of Last Responders, aka the staff at the Coroner’s Office, for the manner in which they complete their task.