Rowan County Coroner's Office

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Rowan County Coroner's Office

Official page for the Rowan County Coroner's Office in Morehead, Kentucky.

The Office of the Coroner is charged with determining the manner and cause of death for those cases that fall within its jurisdiction including; Homicide, su***de, accidental, unusual, suspicious, natural deaths and also responding to natural disasters in our area that involve loss of life. The Coroner's Office orders appropriate autopsies, issues death certificates and signs cremation requests. T

he mission of the Coroner's Office of Rowan County is to serve the people in an efficient, professional and compassionate manner with the integrity to bring peace and closure to the families of Rowan County.

05/28/2026

UPDATE: The next-of-kin has been notified. The decedent is Brandon Lee Zeek, age 33, of Pflugerville, Texas.

On Thursday May 28th, 2026, at approximately 5:00 am Morehead Police Dispatch received a call from an individual who requested a welfare check on a passenger car that was sitting on the shoulder of I-64 Westbound near the Farmers Sharkey exit.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s was dispatched to the scene and found a male subject unresponsive in the vehicle. They requested assistance from the Farmer’s Fire Department, and Rowan County EMS.

The male subject inside of the vehicle was pronounced deceased by Rowan County Coroner, John P. Northcutt. The identity of the deceased is being withheld until their next-of-kin is notified.

The death is under investigation by Coroner Northcutt and Rowan Co. Deputy Sheriff Cam Middleton.

05/13/2026

The Rowan County Coroner’s Office is proud to welcome more than 50 Coroners and Deputy Coroners from across the Commonwealth to Morehead this week for continuing education and professional development focused on “Accidental & Equivocal Death Investigations.”

This two-day training course provides updated instruction in death investigations, court preparation, documentation and evidence collection, communication skills, and data utilization. The training is part of the required continuing education standards for Kentucky Coroners and Deputy Coroners and helps investigators strengthen their skills using the most current investigative practices and information available.

Instruction for the course is being led by Taylor County Coroner's Office Daniel T. Cook. Special presentations are also being provided by Sgt. Alex Wesley of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office (KSP Arson Ret.), who is presenting on fire scene investigations and fatalities, and Catherine Frye, RN and Consultant with CHFS Child Fatality Review, who is providing updates regarding child fatality reviews and accidental child deaths.

The training is supported and proctored by the Department of Criminal Justice Training and coordinated through the Kentucky Coroner's Association.

The Rowan County Coroner’s Office would also like to extend a special thank you to UK St. Claire for allowing the use of the CHER (Center for Health, Education and Research) Building training facility to host this important educational opportunity. Their continued support of training and professional development is greatly appreciated.

Rowan County Coroner John Northcutt and the Rowan County Coroner’s Office are honored to host this training opportunity in Eastern Kentucky and appreciate everyone who helped make the event possible.

Continuing education and collaboration among investigators remain essential in ensuring Kentucky families are served with professionalism, compassion, and thorough investigations.

05/09/2026

Update: The next-of-kin has been notified and the decedent was 72 year old Arnold Gene Crank.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Death Investigation in Clearfield Community

The Kentucky State Police and the Rowan County Coroner’s Office are conducting a death investigation in the Clearfield community of Rowan County.

Friday evening, Kentucky State Police received a call from a concerned family member reporting that he had not seen or heard from his cousin in several days and was worried about his well-being. A Rowan County Deputy Sheriff, along with Kentucky State Police, responded to a mobile home located at 1100 McBrayer Road to conduct a welfare check.

Upon arrival, responders discovered a 72-year-old male deceased inside the residence. Rowan County Coroner John Northcutt pronounced the individual deceased at 8:38 p.m.
Kentucky State Police Sgt. Sam Lawson is the investigating officer.

At this time, no foul play is suspected. The decedent’s name is being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.

Agencies responding to the scene included the Kentucky State Police, Rowan County Sheriff’s Department, Morehead Fire Department, and the Rowan County Coroner’s Office.

The investigation remains ongoing.

04/21/2026

The Rowan County Coroner’s Office is proud to be attending the 2026 Kentucky Coroners Association Annual Conference this week in Bowling Green.

This week is packed with valuable training alongside coroners and deputies from across the Commonwealth. Sessions include drugs of abuse and current drug trends with Lt. Joshua Shaffer - Knoxville, TN Police Department, forensic toxicology and emerging substances with Laureen J. Marinetti, Stuart A. K. Kurtz, and Kevin Shanks, as well as medicolegal investigations and leadership from P. Michael Murphy and mental health awareness with Lionel Phelps.

While part of our team is attending, we want to give a big thank you to Deputy Coroner Derek Lewis for staying back home in Rowan County to cover calls and ensure our community continues to be served. We appreciate him stepping up and making it possible for the rest of us to be here representing our county.

Pictured (left to right): Deputy Coroner Alex Hill, Rowan County Coroner John P. Northcutt, and Deputy Coroner Jarrod Caudill.

04/16/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at approximately 3:26 p.m., Morehead 911 Dispatch received multiple calls reporting a serious motor vehicle accident in the area of 2300 KY 801 North.

The collision involved a 2021 Ford Explorer and a 2000 Harley-Davidson motorcycle near the entrance of PrimaryPlus.

The operator of the motorcycle, 23-year-old Christopher Blake Adkins, a resident of Rowan County, was transported by Rowan County EMS to UK St. Claire HealthCare where he was pronounced deceased at 4:09 p.m. by Rowan County Coroner John Northcutt.

The incident remains under investigation by Kentucky State Police accident reconstructionists Dakota Rasche and Leo Leal.

Mr. Adkins has been transported to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

Agencies assisting at the scene included Farmers Volunteer Fire Department and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.

04/01/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Identification of Human Remains in Rowan County Rowan County, KY

On April 19, 2025, a man and his son hiking in a remote area of Trent Ridge in Rowan County discovered skeletal remains. Authorities were immediately notified, and a coordinated search of the area was conducted, resulting in the recovery of additional evidence.

The remains were transported to the Kentucky State Police Forensic Laboratory for examination and DNA testing.

This morning Rowan County Coroner John Northcutt was notified by Dr. Ashley Mathew of the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort that the remains have been positively identified through DNA analysis as Cameron Lee Boling a Rowan County resident, date of birth March 19, 1985.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Boling’s death remains ongoing. The case is being jointly investigated by Kentucky State Police Sgt. David Zimmerman, Trooper Alex Vanhoose and Rowan County Coroner John Northcutt.

No further information will be released at this time.

03/21/2026

UPDATE: The next-of-kin has been notified. The decedent has been identified as 30 year old, Donavan Kyle Porter a resident of Olive Hill, Kentucky.

On March 20th, 2026, at 9:09 pm, Morehead Police Dispatch was notified by Kentucky State Police Post 8 of a single vehicle accident in the area of KY 519 near the KY 801 junction.

Multiple units from the Kentucky State Police, Morehead Police, Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, Rowan Co. EMS and the Morehead Fire Department responded to the scene.

Units on scene requested the Rowan County Coroner to respond. The operator of the vehicle, a 30 year old male subject, was pronounced deceased at 9:28 pm.

This case in being investigated by Trooper Nathan Carter and Rowan County Coroner John P. Northcutt.

The victim has been sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for an autopsy.

02/12/2026

UPDATE: The next of kin has been notified. The decedent has been identified as William Loren Manning, age 41, of Rock Fork Road, Morehead.
The cause of death is pending autopsy and toxicology results. At this time, no foul play is suspected.

**Death Investigation Underway in Northern Rowan County**

Morehead, KY — Around 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, Morehead 911 Dispatch received a call from a motorist reporting the discovery of a body along the side of the roadway on Rock Fork Road near the Fleming County line in northern Rowan County.

Rowan County EMS, Route 377 Fire Department, Rowan County Sheriff’s Department and Kentucky State Police responded to the scene. Upon arrival, emergency personnel located a deceased individual along a gravel service road just off Rock Fork Road.

Rowan County Coroner John P. Northcutt was notified and responded to the scene. A 41-year-old male was pronounced deceased at 1:01 p.m.

The name of the individual is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The decedent has been transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for an autopsy.

The death remains under investigation by Detective Robbie Duncan of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Department and Coroner Northcutt. Kentucky State Police Trooper Steve Mirus assisted at the scene.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

01/15/2026

Members of the Kentucky Coroner’s Association board met today for their first meeting of 2026 at the Frankfort Medical Examiner’s Office.

The group discussed upcoming training opportunities, planning for the 2026 Annual Conference, and priorities for the association’s legislative agenda.

We appreciate the continued time, effort, and commitment of those serving on the board as we move into the new year.

Top row from left to right: Doug Bowing - Laurel County, Anthony Roberts - Hart County, and John Northcutt - Rowan County.

Middle row from left to right: Kevin Kirby - Warren County, Pat Elmore - Hardin County, Gary Ginn - Fayette County, and Mark Hammond - Boyd County.

Bottom row from left to right: Farris Marcum - Lincoln County, Jo-Ann Farmer - Jefferson County, Amanda Melton - McCracken County, Amber Constantino - Kenton County, and KCA President Jeff Jones - Daviess County.

01/13/2026

Kentucky coroners are pushing for salary increases through proposed legislation that would place them on a pay scale similar to other county level constitutional offices.

Address

1350 Divide Hill Drive
Morehead, KY
40351

Telephone

+16067847511

Website

http://www.rowancoroner.com/

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