Kosciusko County Coroner's Office

05/02/2025

Today, the Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office was honored to participate in a powerful prom car accident reenactment alongside local law enforcement, fire departments, EMS, and school officials. This event serves as a sobering reminder of the real-life consequences that can result from impaired or distracted driving.

As we approach prom season, we urge all students to make safe and responsible choices. One moment can change everything—not just for you, but for your family, friends, and our entire community.

We’re grateful to our community partners for their collaboration in this life-saving effort, and to the students who bravely participated to help send this vital message: Your life matters. Drive sober. Drive safe

02/04/2025

A review of 2024 calls for service shows that the majority of our coroner cases were due to natural causes. Additionally, there were 13 fatal vehicular crashes. Overdose deaths were linked to fentanyl, xylazine, co***ne, and methamphetamine.

02/03/2025

We always hope to keep this number at zero.

01/06/2025

As we settle into the 2025, let’s commit to prioritizing our mental and behavioral health. Help is available if you or someone you know is looking for support: samhsa.gov/find-help

10/07/2024

Public Safety Alert

DEA Issues Warning About Illegal Online Pharmacies

October 4, 2024 – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has seen an increase in illegal online pharmacies selling and shipping counterfeit pills made with fentanyl and methamphetamine to unsuspecting customers in the United States who believe they are purchasing real pharmaceutical drugs such as Oxycodone, Adderall, Xanax, and other drugs from legitimate pharmacies.

As Americans increasingly turn to online pharmacies to purchase necessary medications [1], DEA is issuing this Public Safety Alert to warn of an increase in illegal online, often foreign-based websites that are deceptively targeting American consumers. DEA has identified websites being operated in India and the Dominican Republic. Many of these sites purport to be legitimate, U.S. based or FDA approved sites, but are actually working with drug traffickers to fulfill online orders with fake pills. These website operators are going to great lengths to make the websites look like legitimate online pharmacies – they offer 24-hour customer service, post online reviews and safety facts, and offer deep discounts to deceive customers into believing they were buying from a reputable business.

Often these illegal, online websites use U.S. website addresses and professional-looking designs to appear legitimate when, in fact, they are not. These companies operate illegally, deliberately deceiving American customers into believing they are purchasing safe, regulated medications when they are actually selling fake, counterfeit pills made with fentanyl or methamphetamine. Fake medications can lead to serious health risks, including harmful side effects, ineffective treatment, and even death.

During Operation Press Your Luck, announced on Monday, September 30, 2024, DEA discovered that a U.S. based victim had ordered what she believed to be oxycodone from an online pharmacy, only to receive a fake pill made with fentanyl. The pill looked identical to a real oxycodone, but it was not - it was made with fentanyl and filler. Days after receiving the medication, the victim passed away from acute fentanyl poisoning as a result of taking one of the pills sent to her.

The DEA has identified the following fake pharmacies in a recent criminal investigation:
www.Curecog.com
www.Pharmacystoresonline.com
www.Careonlinestore.com
www.yourphamacy.online
www.MD724.com
www.Greenleafdispensarystore.com
www.Whatishydrocodone.weebly.com
www.Orderpainkillersonline.com
www.USAMedstores.com

If you have purchased alleged medication from any of these websites, you should immediately stop using it and contact your local DEA office or report the incident here.

The only safe prescription medications are those prescribed by a licensed medical provider and dispensed by a trusted pharmacy.

Patients should remain vigilant when purchasing medications online.

DEA remains committed to the safety and health of the American people, which is why we are urging consumers to exercise extreme caution when purchasing medications online. While it can be difficult to identify an illegal online pharmacy, the following are possible red flags that a website is not a legitimate:

- Sells prescription drugs without requiring a valid prescription from a healthcare provider
- Offers much cheaper prices than what is typically seen in the market
- Lists prices in a foreign currency
- Does not contain proof of a valid pharmacy state license or DEA registration
- Medicine arrives in broken or damaged packaging or in a foreign language
- Medicine does not have an expiration date or is expired
- Medicine looks different from what you have received in the past from your trusted pharmacist

For more information on how to keep you and your loved ones safe from illegal and fake pills, visit DEA’s One Pill Can Kill resource page. Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s BeSafeRx campaign page for information on how to safely buy prescription medicines online and to locate a state-licensed online pharmacy. You can also contact your state board of pharmacy to verify a pharmacy’s license.

DEA is committed to working jointly with the medical community to ensure legitimate controlled substances are not being diverted for illegal use.

LEARN MORE: https://www.dea.gov/onepill?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/quick-tips-buying-medicines-over-internet/besaferx-your-source-online-pharmacy-information?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

09/10/2024

As your Coroner, I encounter you and your family during some of the most challenging times in your lives. Whether it's me or one of the deputy coroners, our arrival is a moment no one wishes for, and from that point on, things will never be the same. We all face tough times—maybe you're struggling with illness, job loss, or wondering how to move forward. The truth is, life isn't about being easy; it's about finding ways to make it meaningful and fulfilling.

There are moments when it feels like there's nothing left to fight for, or that no one would notice if you were gone. But I'm here to tell you that's not true. You are loved, and your presence matters more than you might realize. Even strangers could be impacted by your absence—whether it's your smile, your kindness, or simply waking up beside a loved one. You are needed, and the challenges you're facing today can't be overcome if you give up now.

Please, if you're ever in doubt or just need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to reach out to me or to the Su***de Prevention Hotline at 988. I would much rather have a conversation with you today than with your family when it's too late. Stay strong, and remember, when you hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up.

Last year, the Kosciusko County Coroner's Office responded to 11 suicides. Even one is too many. Let's unite to support our neighbors, family, and friends, and show them that help is available.

08/29/2024

Helpful information on when someone is overdosing.

With the right tools, anyone can act to prevent overdose deaths. Here are some steps to take if you believe someone is overdosing: cdc.gov/stop-overdose/response/index.html

08/08/2024

To ensure our kids' safety, always stop for a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. This rule applies to all roads except for highways with a physical barrier, like a concrete wall or grassy median. On such divided highways, only vehicles traveling in the same direction as the school bus need to stop.

08/07/2024

Here is the Coroner Month Report for July.

07/22/2024

Death Notice: JANET DIAZ, white female age 57, passed at Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital in Warsaw on July 10, 2024. She previously was residing at Warsaw Meadows and at Valley Forge Apartments. The Kosciusko County Coroner's Office has been unsuccessful in locating any family. Anyone with information for family please contact the Kosciusko County Coroner's Office at 574-372-2488.

07/19/2024

Please be aware!