Berks County Coroner’s Office

12/15/2022

Assistant Chief Wilson and Deputies Kegerise and Graber are spending the week in Hershey, attending the PA Coroner's Basic Education Course sponsored by the Office of the Attorney General.

12/08/2022

The staff of the BC Coroner’s Office express our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fellow first responders of the New Tripoli Fire Company.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Station 17 after the loss of two firefighters who gave the ultimate sacrifice during a house fire in Schuylkill County.

11/11/2022

Thank you to all the brave men and women who have served this great country. 🇺🇸

The BCCO is proud and honored to have veterans as part of our team!!

Thank you for your service,
Coroner John Fielding • Navy
Chief Deputy George Holmes • Army

❤️🤍💙 We are forever grateful ❤️🤍💙

10/29/2022

Seven precious "unclaimed" babies from Berks County, were finally put to rest with dignity and love ❤️ today after years of being stored away in a closet.

The oldest of them had passed away over fourteen years ago.

Due to many different reasons and circumstances, these seven babies had never been laid to rest after they passed.

With the help of the Adalyn Rose Foundation we were able to provide them with a Memorial Service and a final resting place.

10/28/2022

Berks coroner seeking relatives of Reading-area woman

🔍 Do you know Carol R. Melcher, 71, of Reading area? We are hoping to locate family or friends and contact her next of kin.

📲 Please call our office with any information @ 610-478-3280

Anyone with information is asked to contact the coroner's office in Bern Township by calling 610-478-3280.

10/28/2022

Unclaimed infants' remains given dignified ceremony

7 unclaimed infant remains will be given a dignified ceremony on Saturday morning.

"Unfortunately, some of these infants got here through either the parents being addicted or through neglect due to substance abuse or mental illness."

10/19/2022

Berks coroner trying to locate Reading man's relatives

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/berks-coroner-trying-to-locate-reading-mans-relatives/article_0deb70be-4f30-11ed-96da-830ca0305bc6.html

Anyone with information can contact the coroner's office in Bern Township.

09/18/2022

Timeline photos

Happy Forensic Science Week to forensic scientists and allied professionals!

09/10/2022

The BCCO would like to wish Deputy Coroner Melissa Spuhler a happy, healthy and enjoyable retirement! Deputy Spuhler’s last shift was last evening (and into this morning). Deputy Spuhler has served the residents and visitors of Berks County and the City of Reading for over a decade and has always poured her heart and soul into her career. Please join us in wishing her well as she ventures west and plans to continue a career in death investigation! Thank you for your dedication to this extremely difficult field, enjoy a well deserved retirement 9912, we’ve got it from here! 🖤💜🖤

09/04/2022

*** Update, next of kin located ***

••• Next of Kin Needed •••

The BCCO is asking for the public’s help in locating next of kin for a female found deceased in her home on September 2, 2022.

~ SHIRLEY R. ZIMMERMAN
~ 71 year old female
~ 700 block Wood Ln., Bowers (Longswamp Township)

Please call 610-478-3280 with any information.

09/02/2022

This is a slightly lengthy post but important nonetheless!
Please be aware of this deadly emerging trend!

‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

The Drug Enforcement Administration is advising the public of an alarming emerging trend of colorful fentanyl available across the United States. In August 2022, DEA and our law enforcement partners seized brightly-colored fentanyl and fentanyl pills in 18 states. Dubbed “rainbow fentanyl” in the media, this trend appears to be a new method used by drug cartels to sell highly addictive and potentially deadly fentanyl made to look like candy to children and young people.

“Rainbow fentanyl—fentanyl pills and powder that come in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes—is a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction amongst kids and young adults,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “The men and women of the DEA are relentlessly working to stop the trafficking of rainbow fentanyl and defeat the Mexican drug cartels that are responsible for the vast majority of the fentanyl that is being trafficked in the United States.”

Brightly-colored fentanyl is being seized in multiple forms, including pills, powder, and blocks that resembles sidewalk chalk. Despite claims that certain colors may be more potent than others, there is no indication through DEA’s laboratory testing that this is the case. Every color, shape, and size of fentanyl should be considered extremely dangerous.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than he**in and 100 times more potent than morphine. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, which is equal to 10-15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose. Without laboratory testing, there is no way to know how much fentanyl is concentrated in a pill or powder.

Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing this country. According to the CDC, 107,622 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2021, with 66 percent of those deaths related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Drug poisonings are the leading killer of Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. Fentanyl available in the United States is primarily supplied by two criminal drug networks, the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

In September 2021, DEA launched the One Pill Can Kill Public Awareness Campaign to educate Americans about the dangers of fake pills. Additional resources for parents and the community can be found on DEA's Fentanyl Awareness page at https://www.dea.gov/fentanylawareness.

If you encounter fentanyl in any form, do not handle it and call 911 immediately.

08/09/2022

🥵 Scorcher! 🥵

🌞Heat index values as high as 105 possible today Hot temperatures and high humidity levels will increase the threat of heat related health issues.

☀️Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned location, stay out of the sun when possible, and check on elderly relatives and neighbors

🐶🐱Pets, they don’t wear shoes so walking them when it’s scorcher is really not very nice at all.

☀️Sun screen for everyone and don’t forget your
ears👂

☀️Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. 🕶

07/10/2022

Berks County coroner needs help identifying woman

🚨🚨 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE NEEDED 🚨🚨

The BCCO is attempting to identify a female found deceased in a home in the 1300 block of Muhlenberg Street in Reading.

The decedent has a tattoo of a rose and the name “Brandon” on her right forearm and a tattoo of paw prints on her lower right abdomen.

Please call 610-478-3280 with any information.

The coroner’s office says she has a tattoo of a rose and the name "Brandon" under it on her right forearm. She also had tattoos of paw prints on her

07/08/2022

✨✨Aiden has been located and is safe!!✨✨
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
🚩🚩 Attention Berks County Residents 🚩🚩

~ Please keep an eye out for Aiden! ~

07/03/2022

🇺🇸 Those of us at the BCCO would like to wish you all a happy and enjoyable 4th of July weekend! 💥

🇺🇸 We hope as you celebrate our independence that you do so safely and responsibly!! 💥

🎇 Happy 4th of July 🎆

06/12/2022

It’s no secret that the men and women in our office investigate some very traumatizing cases. Some days are worse then others and we must find ways to remind ourselves of the positive in the world. Many of us find solace and comfort after a long shift in our four legged family members. Then there are some days we get a special visitor during our shift…

🐾 We would like to introduce you to, R***r! R***r is the newest member of Assistant Chief Detweiler’s family and, of course, our office family. We love when R***r stops in for a visit and we are pretty sure he enjoys the attention, treats and love he is spoiled with when he’s here. This good boy even posed nicely for a few pictures! 🐾

Thank you for the visit and smiles, R***r! ❤️

06/06/2022

📌 Update: Family Has been located ~

• Next of Kin Needed •

The BCCO is asking for the public’s help in locating next of kin for a man found deceased in his home on June 5, 2022.

~ JOHN M. GEIST
~ 81 Year old male
~ Barto, Pa area

Please call 610-478-3280 with any information!

05/30/2022

Today we are thankful as we remember the many men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country and the millions of people they had never even met.

Please take a moment today to remember and honor those who served in the United States Armed Forces and died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.

May your Memorial Day be reflective of those who made it possible. The home of the free because of the BRAVE!

🇺🇸 We Remember 🇺🇸

05/17/2022

On Friday, May 13, 2022, several members of the Berks County Coroner’s Office attended the 2022 F.O.P. Annual Memorial Service and Fallen Officers Monument Dedication, where 19 members of Berks County Law Enforcement were remembered and honored for giving the ultimate sacrifice.

The rain held off pas Law Enforcement from around the county and city, family and friends remembered many of the brave men and women who dedicated their lives to serving their communities.

As an agency who works closely with Law Enforcement everyday, we wanted to show our support by attending this beautiful memorial service and monument dedication. We took the opportunity to place a flower in remembrance of our friend and co-worker, Wally Woytovich, and Deputy Coroner Kantner’s father, Jerry Kantner. 💙

05/06/2022

👩‍⚕️🩺🩼Happy National Nurse’s Week 🩹🩺💊

We Notice You, We Appreciate You and We Celebrate you. Every day, nurse’s make a difference ~ with strength, humanity, compassion and love. To all the nurse’s past, present and future we thank you for all you do every day.

❤️ Happy !

04/16/2022

As National Telecommunicator Week draws to a close, we would like to extend our utmost gratitude to the men and women of the Berks County Department of Emergency Service. It is an honor and a privilege to work with these dedicated and compassionate individuals each and every day. They do their absolute best in the toughest situations to provide emergency assistance to the residents of Berks County, its visitors and all of the first responders.

We appreciate all the past and present employees of DES, not just during this week of recognition but every single day of the year.

Thank you for being the golden glue that holds it all together 24/7, 365! 🖤💛🖤

04/12/2022

Berks County Coroner looking for woman's next of kin

Berks County Coroner looking for woman's next of kin

The coroner says anyone from Nataly Altagracia-Vera's family should call the Berks County Coroner's Office at 610-478-3280.

04/10/2022

4 dead, 7 hospitalized in latest round of tainted opioids in Berks

4 dead, 7 hospitalized in latest round of tainted opioids in Berks

Calls for unconscious people or those in cardiac arrest have subsided Sunday.

03/21/2022

~ Our office extends its deepest sympathies to the Pennsylvania State Police as we mourn the loss of two Pennsylvania State Troopers who were struck and killed on I 95 in Philadelphia early this morning.

~ Please keep these families in your thoughts and prayers.

03/11/2022

We are honored to work with such committed, caring, and compassionate people.

Many people outside of the funeral profession have no idea of the amount of work, sacrifice, and compassion you put into serving your communities so today we thank you for all that you do.

03/09/2022

~ The Berks County Coroner’s Office would like to acknowledge our incredible women employees.

~ Today, we celebrate the courage, confidence and courteousness of all our female employees who make it happen everyday. These women go above and beyond to get the job done.

~Thank You for your hard work, dedication and sacrifices that you each make every day.
You Rock 💪





02/26/2022

It is with great honor and recognition for his loyal and dedicated service to the people of Berks County our office announces the retirement of Deputy Coroner Malcolm Eddinger.

Malcolm has been a Deputy Coroner with our office for the past 5 years. Coming to our office as a Retired Reading City Police Officer.

Thank you for your years of service. May you have a long, healthy and happy retirement.

01/09/2022

~ 2022 Police 👮 Appreciation Day ~

Honoring those who protect and serve today. Thank you to the Officers/ Troopers we work along side of every day for all your dedication to duty and service to your communities.

If you see a Police Officer 👮🏼‍♀️ today, thank them.

01/08/2022

Berks coroner seeks next of kin for Reading man

https://www.facebook.com/129038813814302/posts/4967215919996543/?d=n

64-year-old died Thursday

01/05/2022

Coroner seeks next of kin of 68-year-old man

https://www.readingeagle.com/2022/01/04/coroner-seeks-next-of-kin-of-68-year-old-man/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_content=fb-readingeagle&fbclid=IwAR3YUz-ZBs6lV5o8uKnpz5v2x7icQAqbscIEmj-sQpGLxWp699W8aaW1slI

He died Tuesday of natural causes

12/31/2021

From all of us at the Berks County Coroner’s Office, we wish you a safe, healthy, and happy New Year!

12/31/2021

Berks coroner seeks relatives of Wernersville man

https://www.readingeagle.com/2021/12/29/berks-coroner-seeks-relatives-of-wernersville-man/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_content=fb-readingeagle&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwAR0SiB8Acxq7DnmujXigzpBOp2YiRbHWCrIbhH3fLVHqd499sfPjOiDwxp4

The Berks County coroner’s office is seeking the next-of-in for a 39-year-old man who was found deceased in his residence Tuesday afternoon.

12/24/2021

From Our Family to Yours 🎄 ⛄️

12/02/2021

Pair charged in 'gruesome' killing of man on Mount Penn

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/pair-charged-in-gruesome-killing-of-man-on-mount-penn/article_52335e10-537f-11ec-95e9-033b3226323a.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=news_tab

Anthony DelCollo was found dead in a park on Mount Penn in Lower Alsace Township on Oct. 25.

11/25/2021

From our families to yours

11/16/2021

Mission Statement:
Our action serves to represent those who can no longer speak for themselves; to assume jurisdiction over persons who have succumbed to injuries, accidental or by the hands of another by unlawful means; ensuring the decedent and their survivors are treated with the highest levels of dignity and respect.

Goals & Objectives:
The goal of the Coroner’s Office is to provide the citizens of Berks County with thorough, complete and professional investigations.

About the Department:
The Coroner’s Office is mandated by law to investigate deaths independent and parallel to Law Enforcement. The office determines cause and manner of all sudden, unexplained and unnatural deaths, as well as natural deaths that were unattended.

The office investigates approximately 3,600 death each year with approximately 90% being of natural causes.

Office:
The Coroner’s Office is staffed 24/7, 365 days a year. For copies of reports, please contact the office and ask to speak with the Open Records Officer. For general business, normal office hours are from 7:30 A.M. til 5:30 P.M. Outside of these hours, please contact the on-duty deputy for help and information.

11/16/2021

Now it's easier to send Berks County Coroner’s Office a message.

Now it's easier to send Berks County Coroner’s Office a message.