Coroner

Serving as Porter County Coroner I will ensure the high standards of the coroner's office and work collaboratively with law enforcement, first responders, fire departments, detectives, prosecutors and pathologists to provide the most efficient and professional death investigations with integrity, respect and compassion for the deceased and their families.

Coroner's Office

The elected coroner is commissioned by the governor, has to reside in the county and the term of office, under Article 6, Section 2 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana, is 4 years with a term limit of 8 years.

The Porter County Coroner is a part-time position with an office staff comprised of a full-time administrative assistant, 1 part-time chief deputy coroner and 9 part-time deputy coroners.

Duties of the coroner in accordance with Indiana Code 36-2-14 include:

IDENTIFICATION of the deceased by using 1 of the following methods; 

  1. Fingerprint identification
  2. DNA analysis
  3. Dental record analysis
  4. Positive identification by at least 1 immediate family member

Determination of the CAUSE of death.

Cause of death is the final factor or event that happened to the deceased. If this had not happened, the individual would still be alive. This may be a cascade of factors or events, one following the other and this will be reflected on the death certificate that the coroner files with the county health department.

Determination of the MANNER of death.

Manner of death is a descriptive grouping. It is, however, a firmly set, universally accepted acknowledgement of how people die.

  1. Homicide
  2. Suicide
  3. Accident
  4. Natural
  5. Undetermined