LAKE COUNTY— The Lake County Civil Grand Jury conducted a review of the “Coroner’s Procedures for the Indigent and Unidentified” as part of their 2022-2023 review. In this review they addressed both the department’s strengths and its weaknesses concluding with a basic solution to help minimize those weaknesses.
According to the review “In 2022 there were 451 Coroner’s Cases with 54 (11.9 percent) determined to be indigent.” This review defines a deceased person as indigent when they are “without an estate who has no family and therefore no monetary sources to handle the disposition of remains.” In this type of case the county is responsible financially for the fees incurred, including transportation, autopsy, cremation, etc; which can total in excess of $3,300. The Grand Jury noted that the unidentified comprise fewer that one percent of cases and “the one Jane Doe found in January 2023 at Austin Park was subsequently identified.” The review expressed the ability of the Coroner Investigator to personally meet with the families noting that “The Sergeant’s compassion and commitment to open communication were evident.”
The review explains that the disposition processes involved for these indigent and unidentified cases is extended by 30 days minimum with storage of cremated remains to occur for about six months inside of a vault at the Sheriff’s Office before the biannual dispersal of ashes into the ocean at Fort Bragg. The Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary located in Lakeport is responsible for registering these death certificates with the state as well as obtaining the proper permitting for disposition/scattering ashes off of the coast of Mendocino. The Chapel of the Lakes then charters a commercial fishing boat twice a year to scatter the ashes of approximately 30 urns, although the Civil Grand Jury found 54 urns in storage as of May 1, 2023. The review notes “He and his assistant lock their office door whenever they leave so as to keep the urns safe.” The entire coastal dispersal trip requires seven hours and is billed to the Coroner’s Office.
The Civil Grand Jury made two findings, the first commending the Sergeant Coroner and his technician for accomplishing “especially sensitive tasks as well as they can with what they have” and that “they need an additional investigator and separate secure storage.” While the second finding notes “The sensitivity and humanity of the Sergeant Coroner in dealing with the anguished relatives of decedents who have died under troubling circumstances was greatly appreciated by family members.” The Civil Grand Jury then recommended that the Sheriff fund a second investigator.
Also mentioned in the review is the expected and highly anticipated move from their current offices to the old armory after remodeling in which much more space will become available affording them the space for additional secure storage.
Pursuant to Penal Code 933.05 (a)(b)(c), the Sheriff’s Department will have 60 days to respond but response is required. More information of the Civil Grand Jury and other reviews please visit the county website lakecountyca.gov.
