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2021 Stoddard County Coroner's Report Presented by Brent Stidham

Stoddard County, MO - Brent Stidham, Stoddard County Coroner, presented his 2021 Annual Report of deaths in the county.

"First of all I can't thank our first responders, public safety personnel and funeral homes enough for all of their assistance in 2021," stated Stidham.

"With the promise of transparency and for the benefit of public health I am releasing this report of statistics to the residents of Stoddard County," continued Stidham. "The Stoddard County Coroner’s office consists of myself and Deputy Coroner Ashley West. It is our office's mission to investigate every death in the County and provide accurate death information for death certificates and family members. Our office would like to thank our local Stoddard County funeral homes and first responders for their assistance and guidance during 2021."

Total Case Information for 2021

Total cases investigated and certified by the Coroner’s office: 108

Deaths of Stoddard County residents occurring at an out of county hospital: 21

Scene responses: 80

Natural Causes: 79

Homicide: 4

Suicide: 10

Motor vehicle accident: 4

Overdose: 2

Accidental (fall): 1

Pending autopsy results: 1

Covid 19 deaths investigated by the Coroner’s office: 8

For further information regarding Covid-19 deaths please contact the Stoddard County Health Department. The Covid-19 deaths in this report are only those with post-mortem testing completed, or those occurring in hospital emergency rooms. All other Covid-19 deaths have been reported and certified by the attending physician.

Age groups

0-18: 3

19-45: 13

46-70: 50

70 and over: 42

The above information is in regards to Coroner’s Office cases only and does not include deaths occurring under the care of a physician.

"My goal for 2022 for not only the coroner's office, but all of Stoddard County should be to increase mental health awareness and provide resources for both children and adults and come together as a community to lower our suicide rate," Stidham said due to the high number in the county.

The Coroner serves Stoddard County, covering 829 square miles, and a population of 29,377 as of 2019. Per state statute, deaths shall be reported and investigated by the coroner when any person dies as a result of: violence by homicide, suicide, or accident. criminal abortion, including those self-induced. Any unforeseen sudden occurrence when the deceased had not been attended by a physician during thirty-six hours preceding death. Any unusual or suspicious manner. Any injury or illness while in custody of the law or while an inmate in a public institution. Any death of a child under the age of eighteen years old, and eligible to receive a certificate of live birth. Any resident of a residential care facility who dies at the facility; and when death occurs outside a licensed health facility.

When a death occurs outside a licensed health care facility, the first licensed medical professional or law enforcement official learning of such death shall immediately contact the county coroner. Immediately upon receipt of such notification, the coroner or the coroner's deputy shall make the determination if further investigation is necessary, based on information provided by the individual contacting the coroner, and immediately advise such individual of the coroner's intentions.. When a death occurs under the care of a hospice, no investigation shall be required if the death is certified by the treating physician of the deceased or the medical director of the hospice as a natural death due to disease or diagnosed illness. Hospice shall provide written notice to the coroner within twenty-four hours of the death.

Other duties of the Office of Coroner include.

Preparing a budget for income and expenditures.

Act as a conservator of peace throughout the county.

Execute process when the Sheriff is disqualified (when Sheriff is a party) and perform duties of Sheriff if the office is vacant.

Order postmortem examinations (autopsy.)

Certify cause and manner of death (death certificate)

Order blood sample test for alcohol and drug content.

Procure organ donations.

2021 budget information

Total budgeted: $70,279.72

Total actual: $57,791.81

This article: 2021 Stoddard County Coroner's Report Presented by Brent Stidham was first published on https:/showmetimes.com.