Coroner

The Lawrence County Coroner's office investigates all sudden or unexplained deaths that occur in Lawrence County or when a physician is not in attendance, regardless of the deceased's residency. Along with determining the who, what, where, when and why of a death, the coroner also addresses the needs of survivors at what is one of the most stressful and traumatic times of their lives.

Families and friends of the deceased depend on all law enforcement agencies involved in a death to answer as many of their questions as possible. The coroner's responsibilities include the following, but are not limited to:

• The investigation into the cause and manner of death of anyone not attended to by a licensed physician.
• To make the death notification to next-of-kin.
• The determination of the manner and cause of each death and to decide if an inquest into the death is necessary.
• The preparation and proceedings for all inquests within the county.
• The determination of an autopsy if circumstances in a death are suspicious, obscure, or deemed necessary by the coroner.
• The approval of death certificates and issuance of cremation permits.
• The maintenance of all death records for those who die in Lawrence County under the coroner's jurisdiction.

In 1991, Shannon R. Steffey began serving Lawrence County as the deputy coroner. She was then elected as the coroner in 1996, and continues to serve Lawrence County in that capacity.