Lancaster County Forensic Center

Lancaster County Forensic Center "Science Serving Justice" This long-awaited transition marks the first time all areas of the coroner's office have operated under one roof.

In November 2012, the Coroner's Office moved its operations to the new construction site, Lancaster County Forensic Center, located on Spring Valley Road in this municipality of Hempfield. This state-of-the-art facility will serve the citizens of Lancaster County well for many years to come.

A special thank you to Kelsie of Lancaster Catholic High School for coming out to our facility to learn more about being...
06/07/2024

A special thank you to Kelsie of Lancaster Catholic High School for coming out to our facility to learn more about being a coroner investigator. We enjoy teaching people about our profession and hope to see these students continue showing an interest in pursuing this career. We wish her the best of luck as she goes into her senior year!

At 8:15pm on June 4, 2024, the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office responded to a Colerain Township farm for a farming-rel...
06/05/2024

At 8:15pm on June 4, 2024, the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office responded to a Colerain Township farm for a farming-related accident. Coroner investigators arrived and observed a 3-year-old Amish male in the yard of the residence, who was then pronounced deceased. The incident involved a piece of ventilation machinery for the barn, which resulted in a rescue attempt by community members.

The cause of death was determined to be Multiple Traumatic Injuries. The manner of death was ruled Accidental.

At 1:10pm on June 4, 2024, the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office responded to Route 30 East, near mile marker 256.6, for...
06/05/2024

At 1:10pm on June 4, 2024, the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office responded to Route 30 East, near mile marker 256.6, for a three-vehicle collision with fire. A coroner investigator arrived and observed an adult female driver in one of the vehicles, who was then pronounced deceased. The female had been the sole occupant of her vehicle at the time of the collision. She was transported to the Lancaster County Forensic Center for a further examination.

The female was identified as 30-year-old Dayanara Santiago of York, PA. The cause of death was determined to be Multiple Traumatic Injuries. The manner of death was ruled Accidental.

Pools are open and summer fun has begun! The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office would like to remind the public how they ...
06/03/2024

Pools are open and summer fun has begun!

The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office would like to remind the public how they can help keep their families and children safe during water activities this summer. Whether it is recreational boating or backyard swimming pools, water safety is important for all water activities. Come see us at the West Hempfield and Manor Township National Night Out, in August, to learn more about water safety!

While water safety is important for all ages, it is especially important for children. Drowning is the leading cause of injury death in children ages 1-4, and the 2nd leading cause of injury death in children ages 5-14. Young children can drown in as little as 1-2 inches of water, and it can happen quickly and silently. The biggest drowning threat that families with children face is unexpected, unsupervised access to water. Approximately 70% of drowning deaths occur during non-swim times. Swimming pools, hot tubs and spas, bathtubs, natural bodies of water such as ponds, and standing water in homes should all be considered potential drowning risks.

The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office recommends the following water safety tips, for all members of your family:

• Never swim alone.

• Provide "touch" or "arms-length away" supervision to children under the age of 5 whenever they are in the water.

• Wear bright, high-visibility swimwear to increase the chances of being seen underneath the water. (See the attached images for help choosing proper swimwear colors)

• Know what to do in a water emergency – including how to help someone who is in trouble in the water, call for emergency help, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

• Make sure all members of your household learn how to swim and have good water competency skills.

• Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating or fishing, even if you do not intend to enter the water.

• At the beach, always swim in a lifeguarded area.

• Employ multiple layers of protection such as barriers to prevent access to water, life jackets/personal floatation devices (PFD), and close supervision of children to prevent drowning. (See more information below regarding PFDs)

• Adults should take turns as 15-minute “Water Watchers” to provide close and constant attention to children they are supervising. Do not use cell phones or allow any distractions while being a 'Water Watcher'.

• Teach children to always ask permission before going near water.

• Fence backyard pools and spas with adequate 4-foot high barriers, including four-sided fencing that separates the water from the house.

• For young children: Empty water containers – such as buckets, wading pools, and coolers containing melted ice – immediately after use.

Personal Floatation Device (PFD) Information:

PFDs come in a variety of shapes, colors, and materials. Always look for the United States Coast Guard (USCG) approval number on any PFD you buy. It is important to make sure that you get one that is right for you and your children as well as the water conditions you expect to encounter. Test out PFDs prior to a vacation or water activity, and ensure they are a snug fit. To ensure a proper fit for children, pick the child up by the shoulders of the PFD - if the PFD fits correctly, the child's chin and ears will not slip through.

Remember: A PFD is not a substitute for adult supervision. NEVER leave a child unattended in or near the water.

Source credits: ALIVE Solutions, Airhead Sports Group, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The American Red Cross, and The American Academy of Pediatrics

At 4:40am on March 29, 2024, the Lancaster County Coroner's Office responded to Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital...
03/29/2024

At 4:40am on March 29, 2024, the Lancaster County Coroner's Office responded to Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital for a patient death in the Emergency Department. A coroner investigator arrived and observed an adult male who had been pronounced deceased. The male was identified as 65-year-old Robert Enochs of Mountville Borough. Enochs had been transported to the hospital after a fire occurred at his residence on Froelich Avenue. An assessment conducted by the coroner investigator noted thermal injuries. Enochs was transported to the Lancaster County Forensic Center for further investigation.

An autopsy was performed later that same morning. The cause of death was ruled as Smoke Inhalation and Thermal Burns. The manner of death was determined to be Accidental.

On September 13, 2023 at 6:10am, the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office was notified of a fatal residential fire that occ...
09/13/2023

On September 13, 2023 at 6:10am, the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office was notified of a fatal residential fire that occurred on South Main Street in Manheim Borough. The incident occurred in a building that housed multiple second and third floor apartments. A coroner investigator arrived on the scene and pronounced one of the residents, 61-year-old Lori Rehkugler, deceased.

Rehkugler was transported to the Lancaster County Forensic Center for a further examination. Her cause of death was determined to be Smoke Inhalation and Thermal Burns. The manner of death was Accidental.

On August 22, 2023, at 9:15pm, the Lancaster County Coroner's Office responded to the scene of a fatal crash involving a...
08/23/2023

On August 22, 2023, at 9:15pm, the Lancaster County Coroner's Office responded to the scene of a fatal crash involving a single vehicle that had struck a tree. The incident occurred on Kleinfeltersville Road in Clay Township. Deputy coroners arrived on the scene and observed an adult male driver, who was then pronounced deceased. The male was identified as 24-year-old Josiah Maier of Lititz, PA. A physical assessment performed by the deputy coroners revealed traumatic injuries.

Maier was transported to the Lancaster County Forensic Center for a further examination. His cause and manner of death are currently pending.

On August 22, 2023, at 3:00pm, the Lancaster County Coroner's Office responded to the scene of a fatal three-vehicle col...
08/23/2023

On August 22, 2023, at 3:00pm, the Lancaster County Coroner's Office responded to the scene of a fatal three-vehicle collision involving a sedan, commercial van, and tractor trailer. The incident occurred on West 28th Division Highway in Penn Township. Deputy coroners arrived on the scene and observed an adult female in the front passenger seat of the sedan, who was then pronounced deceased. The female was identified as 41-year-old Bethany Welch of Palmyra, PA. A physical assessment performed by the deputy coroners revealed traumatic injuries.

Welch was transported to the Lancaster County Forensic Center for a further examination. An autopsy was performed on the morning of August 23, 2023. The cause of death was determined to be Multiple Traumatic Injuries from the crash. The manner of death was ruled Accidental.

On August 20, 2023 at 9:30pm, the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office responded to Lancaster General Hospital for the deat...
08/21/2023

On August 20, 2023 at 9:30pm, the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office responded to Lancaster General Hospital for the death of 45-year-old Danielle Sandul of Salisbury, MD. She was transported from the original incident scene, to Lancaster General Hospital, after the vehicle she was a passenger in was involved in a motor vehicle crash. The incident occurred at the intersection of Friends Road and Little Britain Road, in Little Britain Township.

Sandul was transported from Lancaster General Hospital to the Lancaster County Forensic Center for a further examination. Her cause and manner of death are currently pending.

At 7:14 am on August 6, 2023, the Lancaster County Coroner's Office responded to Valley Road in Eden Township for a moto...
08/06/2023

At 7:14 am on August 6, 2023, the Lancaster County Coroner's Office responded to Valley Road in Eden Township for a motor vehicle crash involving a pickup truck and a horse-drawn buggy. Coroner investigators arrived and observed an adult Amish male and female, identified as 71-year-old Jacob Stoltzfus and 70-year-old Annie Stoltzfus, husband and wife from Eden Township. A coroner investigator pronounced both deceased at the scene. The couple were occupants of a horse-drawn buggy at the time of the crash. A physical assessment at the scene by a coroner investigator revealed significant trauma.

Both individuals were transported to the Lancaster County Forensic Center for further investigation. Their cause and manner of death are currently pending.

On August 6, 2023, at 2:30am, the Lancaster County Coroner's Office responded to Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospita...
08/06/2023

On August 6, 2023, at 2:30am, the Lancaster County Coroner's Office responded to Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital for a patient who had been pronounced deceased. A coroner investigator arrived and observed a juvenile black male in the operating room of the hospital. The male had been involved in a police-involved shooting incident, which occurred just after midnight in the first block of West New Street in Lancaster City. A physical assessment performed by the coroner investigator revealed firearm-related injuries.

The male was transported to the Lancaster County Forensic Center for further investigation. The name is being withheld pending notification to next-of-kin. An autopsy is being scheduled.

At 10:54am on July 24, 2023, the Lancaster County Coroner's Office responded to the scene of a farming accident involvin...
07/24/2023

At 10:54am on July 24, 2023, the Lancaster County Coroner's Office responded to the scene of a farming accident involving a mule drawn wagon, on Fulton Britain Road in Little Britain Township. A coroner investigator arrived and pronounced a 5-year-old Amish male, of Little Britain Township, deceased. The manner of death was ruled Accidental.

Address

2080 Spring Valley Road
Lancaster, PA
17601

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+17177352123

Website

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