|
|
NEWBERRY
COUNTY CORONER |
|
 |
|
CRAIG
NEWTON TAKES
OATH OF OFFICE
- JAN 5TH, 2009
|
General Information
The Office
of the Newberry County Coroner investigates all suspicious and
violent deaths, as well as any death occurring outside of a hospital
or nursing home within Newbery County. In addition, any death
occurring less than 24-hours after a patient is admitted to a
Newberry County Memorial Hospital and all emergency room deaths must
be investigated. The Office of the Coroner is responsible to see that
relatives and loved ones are notified of the death. When at all
possible, these notifications are made in person.
The
position of Coroner is established by Constitutional law to serve the
people of a respective county. The Newberry County Coroner is the
Chief Investigating Officer for all deaths requiring an investigation
and must work closely with all Law Enforcement Agencies. When
multiple investigating agencies are involved, the Coroner serves to
coordinate the investigating efforts. The Coroner is responsible for
insuring that all evidence at a death scene is properly preserved and
that the personal belongings of the deceased are safeguarded and
returned to the families.
It is the
sole responsibility and lawful duty of the Coroner to determine the
manner of death of every person who dies in Newberry County, or dies
from injuries that occurred in Newberry County. The Coroner retains
the assistance of experts from various fields.
The
pathologist or physician consulting with the Coroner determines the
cause of death. The Coroner must determine through investigation
whether the death was natural, accidental,homicidal, suicidal or of
undetermined cause(s). Experts from anthropology, toxicology,
odontology, entomology, photography, trace evidence collection and
other forensic specialties may assist in the determination of the
cause of death. The Coroner and the Solicitor are totally responsible
for determining when an autopsy is performed.
|