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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
CORONER
2010
STEVE MOORE SHERIFF-CORONER
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR
7000 MICHAEL N.CANLIS BLVD. FRENCH CAMP, CA. 95231
(209) 468-4300 www.sjsheriff.org
OFFICE OF
======== SHERIFF-CORONER = =
COUNTY OF SAN JOAQUIN 7000 Michael N. Can lis Blvd.
French Camp, California 95231 -9781
April 1, 2011 Steve Moore
Sheriff·Coroner Public Administrator
Honorable Members of the Board of Supervisors County of San Joaquin Courthouse Stockton, California
Dear Board Members:
The 2010 Annual Report of the Office of Coroner, which contains statistical data of the activities of this office, is forwarded to you for your review and information. This report catalogs the activities of the San Joaquin County Coroner's Office for the calendar year 2010, and offers a full accounting of the cases and medical inquiries into the causes and manners of death of any coroner's case within the San Joaquin County Coroner's jurisdiction.
Your Board again is to be recognized for the great level of support and assistance provided to this office as we work to raise the quality of the services provided to our citizens.
We also wish to express our gratitude to all members of the medical community, as well as our governmental agency partners who have provided assistance throughout the year.
Sincerely,
Sheriff-Coroner
CD-32
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1
-SUMMARY OF CONTENTS 2 -DEATHS REPORTABLE TO THE CORONER 3
INVESTIGATIONS, CORONER CASES AND AUTOPSIES 5
-SUMMARY OF REPORTABLE DEATHS 6 -SUMMARY OF INVESTIGATIONS 5-YEARS 7 -DISPOSITION OF REPORTABLE DEATHS 8 -AGE AND SEX OF DECEDENTS 9
MANNER OF DEATH 10
-DEFINITION OF CAUSE AND MANNERS OF DEATH 11 -COMPARISON OF DEATHS BY TYPE 12 -INVESTIGATIONS BY TYPE OF DEATH 13 -NATURAL DEATHS BY THE MONTH 14 -NATURAL DEATHS BY CAUSE 15 -MISCELLANEOUS ACCIDENTAL DEATHS BY CAUSE 16 -COMPARISON OF ACCIDENTAL DEATHS BY CAUSE 17 -MISCELLANEOUS ACCIDENTAL DEATHS 5-YEARS 18 -COMPARISON OF UNDETERMINED DEATHS BY CAUSE 19 -MOTOR VEHICLE DEATHS BY MODE 20 -MOTOR VEHICLE DEATHS BY TYPE 21 -MOTOR VEHICLE DEATHS BY MONTH 22 -BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS IN MOTOR VEHICLE DEATHS 23 -BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS CHART IN VEHICLE DEATHS 24 -BLOOD ALCOHOL AND NON BLOOD ALCOHOL DEATHS 25 -MOTOR VEHICLE DEATHS 5-YEARS 26 -HOMICIDES BY MODE 27 -HOMICIDES BY JURISDICTION 28 -HOMICIDES BY THE MONTH 29 -HOMICIDES 5-YEARS 30 -SUICIDES BY MODE 31 -SUICIDES BY THE MONTH 32 -SUICIDES 5-YEARS 33
SPECIAL SUMMARIES 34
-TEEN SUICIDES 35 -DEATHS DUE TO ILLICIT DRUGS 36 -DEATHS DUE TO GUNSHOT WOUND(S) 37
INDIGENT BURIALS 38
-INDIGENT BURIALS SUMMARY 39 -INDIGENT BURIALS 5-YEARS 40
INTRODUCTION
1
2
2010 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CORONER In San Joaquin County, the Sheriff and the Coroner are one and the same. The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Coroner Division is comprised of one Sergeant, three Deputy Sheriff-Coroner Investigators, two Secretaries, a Chief Medical Examiner and two Medical Technicians. During the 2010 calendar year, 4493 deaths were recorded in San Joaquin County. Of that number, 2621 or about 58%, were reported to the Coroner’s Office pursuant to California Government Code Section 27491, which directs the Coroner to inquire into and determine the circumstances, manner, and cause of those reportable deaths. This represents a 6.9% increase over 2009 when 2451 deaths were reported to the Coroner. After investigation, 678 deaths, or about 25.8% of the cases reported to the Coroner, resulted as actual coroner cases with the final cause of death signed by the Coroner or his delegated authority. This represents an increase of 6.7% from 2009. The remaining 1943 cases were referred to the attending physicians for signing of the death certificates. Of the 678 deaths certified by the Coroner’s Office, 563 or about 83% required an Autopsy, to determine the cause of death. Of these cases investigated, about 43.7% were found to be deaths due to natural causes. Of the natural deaths investigated by the Coroner, about 61.4% were heart related. Accidental deaths comprised about 43.5% of investigated deaths. Of the accidental deaths, 26% were due to motor vehicles. Vehicle accidents were up from 61 in 2009 to 77 in 2010. Alcohol was found to be present in the post mortem blood in about 30% of all motor vehicle deaths. Suicides accounted for about 9.2% of the investigated deaths, and firearms were the instruments of death in about 44.4% of those cases. There were 68 homicides investigated by the San Joaquin County Coroner’s Office in 2010, an increase of about 7.9% over 2009. Firearms were the major instruments of death in about 70.5% of all homicides. There were 6 deaths of undetermined classification investigated by the Coroner. In these investigations the cause or manner of death could not be determined. During 2010, the Coroner’s Office processed 60 indigent cases in which the decedents had insufficient funds for interment, an 8.8% decrease over 2009.
INVESTIGATIONS
CORONER CASES
AND AUTOPSIES
5
6
SUMMARY OF REPORTABLE DEATHS 2010
AUTOPSY INSPECTION INVESTIGATION REFERRAL TOTAL
JANUARY 36 5 3 166 210FEBRUARY 39 4 9 168 220MARCH 54 7 6 178 245APRIL 49 6 4 159 218MAY 45 0 7 174 226JUNE 54 4 2 146 206JULY 45 3 6 148 202AUGUST 45 8 5 134 192SEPTEMBER 58 5 3 155 221OCTOBER 36 4 5 172 217NOVEMBER 56 5 4 159 224DECEMBER 46 4 6 184 240
TOTAL 563 55 60 1943 2621
AUTOPSY: A FULL EXAMINATION, BOTH EXTERNAL AND
INTERNAL, TO DETERMINE THE PATHOLOGICAL CAUSE OF DEATH. THE DEATH CERTIFICATE IS SIGNED BY THE CORONER 563
INSPECTION: A TERM USED BY THE CORONER’S OFFICE WHEN
THERE IS SUFFICIENT MEDICAL DATA TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF DEATH BY PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF THE BODY AND WITHOUT AN AUTOPSY. THE FINAL DEATH CERTIFICATE IS SIGNED BY THE CORONER. 55
INVESTIGATION: A TERM USED BY THE CORONER’S OFFICE WHEN THE DEATH CERTIFICATE IS SIGNED BY THE CORONER AFTER A FULL INVESTIGATION, AND REVIEW OF MEDICAL RECORDS WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF THE BODY. 60
REFERRAL: A TERM USED BY THE CORONER’S OFFICE FOR A
DEATH THAT WHEN AFTER INVESTIGATION IS RELEASED TO A PRIVATE PHYSICIAN FOR THE SIGNING OF THE DEATH CERTIFICATE. 1943
TOTAL: INDICATES TOTAL NUMBER OF AUTOPIES,
INSPECTIONS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND REFERRALS. 2621
CORONER INVESTIGATIONS
7
2350
2400
2450
2500
2550
2600
2650
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 AUTOPSY 365 470 558 485 563 INSPECTION & INVESTIGATION
313 272 162 150 115
REFERRAL 1795 1805 1834 1816 1943 TOTAL 2473 2532 2554 2451 2621
8
DISPOSITION OF REPORTABLE DEATHS
Autopsy21.5%
Inspection2.1%
Investigation2.3%
Referral74.1%
Total Reportable Deaths: 2621
CORONER INVESTIGATIONS AGE AND SEX OF DECEDENTS
9
010
20
30
40
5060
70
80
90
100
0-1 1-9 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89 90+ unk
Male
Female
CORONER INVESTIGATIONS SEX OF DECEDENTS 2010
AGE GROUPS MALE FEMALE TOTAL
0-1 7 9 16 2-9 3 3 6
10-19 21 11 32 20-29 54 13 67 30-39 57 22 79 40-49 88 26 114 50-59 103 44 147 60-69 69 30 99 70-79 30 18 48 80-89 29 27 56
90+ 4 10 14 Unknown
(DOE) adults0 0
TOTAL 465 213 678
MANNER OF
DEATH
10
Definition of Cause and Manners of Death Reference: National Association of Medical Examiners Guide Cause The medical reason for the death as determined by a Forensic Pathologist or Licensed Physician. Manner The category or classification of death based on the available information concerning the circumstances surrounding a death. The Manner of Death is used only in the United States for statistical purposes and is not legally binding. The preponderance of medical and/or investigative evidence (greater than a 50:50 chance) is the standard used when determining Manner of Death. The Manners of Death used in California are listed below.
Natural Deaths due solely or nearly totally to a disease and/or the 246
natural aging process. Accident Deaths due to an act, injury or poisoning where the outcome
was unintentional. 295 Suicide Deaths due to an injury or poisoning as a result of an intentional,
self-inflicted act committed to do self harm or cause the death of one’s self. 63
Homicide Deaths due to a volitional act committed by another person to cause harm, fear or death. Intent is a common element but is not required for this classification. 68 Undetermined Used when the information pointing to one manner of death is no more compelling than one or more competing manners of
death after thorough consideration of all available information. 6
As an example, the Cause of Death is “Gunshot Wound of the Head,” but the preponderance of available information is not sufficient to certify the Manner of Death as either an accident, suicide, or homicide.
Total Indicates the total number of all Manners of Death as 678 certified by the Coroner’s Office.
11
12
COMPARISON OF DEATHS BY TYPE 2006-2010
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 NATURAL 265 301 306 260 246ACCIDENT (MISC) 168 189 200 192 218ACCIDENT (MOTOR VEH) 120 123 91 61 77SUICIDE 54 58 74 56 63HOMICIDE 59 54 45 63 68UNDETERMINED 12 2 3 3 6REFERRAL 1795 1805 1834 1816 1943 TOTAL 2473 2532 2554 2451 2621 % CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR
-3.4% +4.1% +1.0% -4.03% +9.35%
TOTAL DEATHS IN SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
4614 4576 4635 4342 4493
% INVESTIGATED BY CORONER 54% 55% 55% 56% 58%
COMPARISON OF DEATH INVESTIGATIONSBY TYPE OF DEATH
2010
Homicide10.0%
Natural36.3%
Accident (Motor Veh)11.4%
Accident (Misc)32.2%
Undetermined0.9%
Suicide9.3%
Total: 678 Deaths (Actual Coroner Cases)
13
NATURAL DEATHS BY THE MONTH
14
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2010 JAN 24FEB 27MAR 26APR 19MAY 13JUN 19JUL 16AUG 19SEP 21OCT 14NOV 20DEC 28 TOTAL 246
COMPARISON OF NATURAL DEATHS BY CAUSE
15
Heart61.4%
Hepatic10.2%
Other9.3%
S.I.D.S.0.8%
Malignancy0.8%
Respiratory10.6%
Central Nervous System
5.3%
Digestive System1.6%
NATURAL DEATHS BY CAUSE 2010
HEART 151 DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 4 RESPIRATORY 26 CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM 13 SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME
2
MALIGNANCY 2 HEPATIC 25 Other: Endocrine, Hematologic, Immune, Renal and Misc.
23
TOTAL 246
MISCELLANEOUS ACCIDENTAL DEATHS BY CAUSE
16
ASPHYXIA …………………………………………………………. 16 DROWNING 12 CHOKED ON FOOD/OBJECT 2 POSITIONAL ASPHYXIA 2 DRUG(S)/TOXIC SUBSTANCES ……………………………….... 158 O.D. ILLICIT DRUGS/DRUG ABUSE 38 OVERDOSE OF ALCOHOL 1 OVERDOSE PRESCRIPTION DRUG(S)/MED(S) 30 CHRONIC IV DRUG ABUSE 0 COMBINED ALCOHOL AND DRUGS 59 BURNS/SMOKE INHALATION ……………………..……….…… 1 RESIDENTAL FIRE 0 Chemical burns 1 FALL …………………………………………………………..……. 40 DOWNSTAIRS 0 TO PAVEMENT 2 TO GROUND 28 TO FLOOR 6 FROM HEIGHT 4 AGAINST OBJECT 0 OTHER MISC ACCIDENT …………………………………..……. 3 INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS 2 HYPOTHERMIA (COLD RELATED) 0 THERAPEUTIC COMPLICATION 1 OTHER 0 TOTAL …………………………………………………………..… 218
COMPARISON OF MISCELLANEOUS ACCIDENTAL DEATHS BY CAUSE
17
Drugs72.5%
Falls18.3%
Burns0.5%
Asphyxia7.3%
Other1.4%
MISCELLANEOUS ACCIDENTAL DEATHS BY CAUSE
2010 ASPHYXIA 16DRUGS 158FALLS 40BURNS 1OTHER 3 TOTAL 218
MISCELLANEOUS ACCIDENTAL DEATHS
18
0
50
100
150
200
250
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
MISCELLANEOUS ACCIDENTAL
DEATHS – BY MONTH AND YEAR 2006-2010
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 JAN 7 18 12 16 13 FEB 8 14 13 24 12 MAR 15 22 16 17 18 APR 13 18 21 17 17 MAY 10 10 18 16 23 JUN 12 22 23 14 21 JUL 34 8 18 17 21 AUG 15 14 16 11 19 SEP 15 14 11 23 20 OCT 14 17 28 13 16 NOV 8 13 13 12 20 DEC 20 18 11 12 18 TOTAL 168 188 200 192 218
COMPARISON OF UNDETERMINED DEATHS BY CAUSE
19
Other/Unknown100%
Indian Remains0%
UNDETERMINED DEATHS BY CAUSE
2010 INDIAN REMAINS 0 OTHER/UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES 6
TOTAL 6
20
COMPARISON OF MOTOR VEHICLEACCIDENTAL DEATHS
Automobile49.4%
Truck7.8%
Motorcycle11.7%
Misc.1.3%
ATV0.0%
Pedestrian29.9%
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTAL DEATHS 2010
AUTOMOBILE 38 TRUCK 6 PEDESTRIAN 23 MOTORCYCLE 9 MISC 1 ATV 0 TOTAL 77
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTAL DEATHS 2010
21
AUTOMOBILE ……………………………………..……………. 38 AUTO OVERTURN 9 AUTO VS AUTO 9 AUTO VS FIXED OBJECT 8 AUTO VS TRUCK 5 AUTO VS UNKNOWN 0 AUTO INTO WATER 5 AUTO VS TRAIN 0 AUTO VS BICYCLE 2 FALL FROM MOVING VEHICLE 0 MOTORCYCLE………………………………………..………….. 9 MOTORCYCLE VS AUTO 4 MOTORCYCLE VS TRUCK 0 MOTORCYCLE OVERTURN 2 MOTORCYCLE VS FARM VEHICLE 1 MOTORCYCLE VS MULTI VEHICLES 0 MOTORCYCLE VS TRAIN 0 MOTORCYCLE VS FIXED OBJECT 2 PEDESTRIAN ………………………………………..…………… 23 PEDESTRIAN VS FARM EQUIPMENT 2 PEDESTRIAN VS AUTO 15 PEDESTRIAN VS TRUCK 4 PEDESTRIAN VS TRAIN 2 TRUCK ………….…………………………………..……………. 6 TRUCK OVERTURN 3 TRUCK VS AUTO 2 TRUCK VS FIXED OBJECT 0 TRUCK VS TRUCK 0 TRUCK INTO WATER 0 TRUCK VS BICYCLE 1 MISC……………………………………………. 1 TOTAL …………………………………………….……………… 77
MOTOR VEHICLE DEATHS
22
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2010
MOTOR VEHICLE DEATHS MONTHLY COMPARISON
JAN 2FEB 7MAR 10APR 3MAY 2JUN 8JUL 7AUG 7SEP 12OCT 9NOV 8DEC 2 TOTAL 77
BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS IN MOTOR VEHICLE DEATHS
23
California Government Code Section 27491.25 provides that the Coroner shall test for alcohol and barbiturate levels in all motor vehicle deaths where the decedent was fifteen (15) years of age, or older, and died within twenty-four (24) hours of the accident. It gives the Coroner discretion for testing to determine possible amphetamine level.
It further provides that such tests shall also be performed on decedents less than fifteen (15) years of age, if the surrounding circumstances indicate the possibility of alcohol, barbituric acid, or amphetamine derivative consumption.
During 2010, seventy seven (77) people died in San Joaquin County as a result of motor vehicle accidents, this represents a 26% increase from 2009. Blood samples were obtained and submitted for toxicological study in about 99% of these cases.
California Vehicle Code, section 23152 (a) states that it is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or any drug to drive a vehicle. Section 23152 (b) states that it is unlawful for any person who has a blood alcohol of 0.08% or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle.
Alcohol was present in the blood in about 30% of the tested cases. The blood alcohol level was at or above 0.08% in about 26% of all motor vehicle deaths, a increase of 1.76% from year 2009. Results showed that twenty (20) of the seventy seven (77) persons tested for blood alcohol levels were presumed intoxicated beyond the legal limit to operate a vehicle in California.
Particularly significant was the fact that of the tested thirty six (36) drivers of motor vehicles in 2010, eleven (11) of the drivers, or about 30.5% had blood alcohol levels at or above the level presumed to be under the influence of alcohol.
Also noted was the fact that there were no alcohol deaths in anyone under the age of 18 years.
BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS IN MOTOR VEHICLE DEATHS
24
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Neg. .01-.03% .04-.07% .08-.12% .13-.19% .20% &Over
OF THOSE TESTED
BLOOD ALCOHOL IN MOTOR VEHICLE DEATHS 2010
Neg. .01-.03% .04-.07% .08-.12% .13-.19% .20% & Over
DRIVER 24 0 1 2 2 7PASSENGER 10 0 0 0 0 0PEDESTRIAN 12 0 0 1 3 4MOTORCYCLIST 5 1 1 0 0 1BICYCLIST 1 0 0 0 0 0UNKNOWN 2 0 0 0 0 0 TOTAL 54 1 2 3 5 12
BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS IN MOTOR VEHICLE DEATHS
25
No Alcohol70.1%
Alcohol29.9%
2010
ALCOHOL 23 NO ALCOHOL 54 TOTAL 77
MOTOR VEHICLE DEATHS FIVE-YEAR COMPARISON
26
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
MOTOR VEHICLE DEATHS FIVE-YEAR COMPARISON
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 JAN 12 10 6 5 2 FEB 14 8 6 7 7 MAR 7 13 6 3 10 APR 9 11 9 3 3 MAY 10 18 13 3 2 JUN 10 10 9 6 8 JUL 7 15 9 10 7 AUG 11 8 5 5 7 SEP 9 8 5 12 12 OCT 11 6 10 1 9 NOV 8 3 2 3 8 DEC 12 13 11 3 2 TOTAL 120 123 91 61 77
COMPARISON OF HOMICIDES BY MODE OF DEATH
27
Gunshot Wound(s)70.6%
Incised/Cut Wound(s)11.8%
Beating/Blow(s) to Body13.2%
Strangulation2.9%
Other1.5%
2010 HOMICIDES MALE FEMALE TOTALGUNSHOT WOUND(S) 44 4 48BEATING/BLOW(S) TO BODY 6 3 9INCISED/CUT WOUND(S) 7 1 8STRANGULATION 1 1 2OTHER 1 0 1TOTAL 59 9 68
HOMICIDES BY JURISDICTION
28
Stockton Police77.9%
Other2.9%
Manteca Police1.5%
Lodi Police2.9%
Lathrop0.0%
Tracy Police4.4%
San Joaquin Sheriff10.3%
HOMICIDES BY JURISDICTION
2010 STOCKTON POLICE 53 SAN JOAQUIN SHERIFF 7 MANTECA POLICE 1 LODI POLICE 2 TRACY POLICE 3 LATHROP POLICE 0 OTHER-Out of County 2 TOTAL 68
HOMICIDES BY THE MONTH
29
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2010
JAN 2FEB 3MAR 4APR 9MAY 11JUN 4JUL 6AUG 10SEP 7OCT 4NOV 6DEC 2
TOTAL 68
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY HOMICIDES FIVE-YEAR COMPARISON
30
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 HOMICIDE 59 54 46 63 68
COMPARISON OF SUICIDES BY MODE OF DEATH
31
Hanging22%
Train6%
Overdose 11%
Asphyxia/Suffocation5%
Incised/Cut Wound(s)6%
Drowning0%
Vehicle 3%
Poison2%
Burn0%
Gunshot Wound(s)45%
2010 SUICIDES
MALE FEMALE TOTALGUNSHOT WOUND(S) 27 1 28HANGING 12 2 14INCISED/CUT WOUND(S) 2 2 4VEHICLE 2 0 2OVERDOSE 3 4 7DROWNING 0 0 0POISON 1 0 1ASPHYXIA/SUFFOCATION 3 0 3BURN 0 0 0TRAIN 2 2 4TOTAL 52 11 63
SUICIDES BY THE MONTH
32
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2010
JAN 3FEB 3MAR 9APR 10MAY 2JUN 8JUL 3AUG 3SEP 5OCT 2NOV 10DEC 5 TOTAL 63
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY SUICIDES FIVE-YEAR COMPARISON
33
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY SUICIDES FIVE-YEAR COMPARISON
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 SUICIDE 54 58 74 56 63
SPECIAL SUMMARIES
34
35
TEEN SUICIDES
In 2010 there were 5 teenage suicides investigated by the Coroner’s Office. The month of occurrence, sex, age, and method of each case was as follows:
January Male Age 16 years old Train April Male Age 17 years old Gunshot Wound June Male Age 17 years old Hanging November Female Age 13 years old Hanging November Female Age 17 years old Hanging
36
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL SUMMARY
In 2010 there were over 158 deaths investigated by the Coroner’s Office which were caused by an overdose of illicit drugs, alcohol or pharmaceuticals, (pg. 16). These deaths are now tracked in more detail and by specific drug type. The classification of these deaths was primarily accidental. Although 158 deaths were directly caused by an overdose, a significant number of deaths included illicit drugs or alcohol as contributory or not directly related to the cause of death. The numbers below represent the total number of decedents that had the substances appear in their toxicology reports. Many decedents may have a combination of several substances.
METHAMPHETAMINE/AMPHETAMINE 32 PHARMACEUTICALS 43 HEROIN 9 COCAINE 12 METHADONE 29 PCP (Phencyclidine) 1 MDMA/MDA 3 (MDMA-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine MDA-Methylenedioxyamphetamine)
ALCOHOL 29
Although “Methadone” is a pharmaceutical, it was not actually prescribed to many of the decedents and was obtained through other means. It was included along with this special summary for that reason.
37
TOTAL DEATHS FROM GUNSHOT WOUNDS (FIREARMS) In 2010 there were 73 deaths investigated by the Coroner’s Office, which were due to gunshot wounds (firearms). This represents an increase of about .03% from 2009. These deaths were classified as follows:
HOMICIDE 47 (64%)
SUICIDE 26 (36%)
ACCIDENT 0 (0%)
UNDETERMINED 0 (0%)
INDIGENT BURIALS
38
39
INDIGENT BURIALS Under the provisions of California Health and Safety Code Section 7104, the county of residence of any indigent is responsible for the interment. The Coroner’s Office administers the indigent burials budget for San Joaquin County. During 2010 the Coroner’s Office processed 60 indigent cases at a cost of approximately $20,700. This was 8 less cases than in 2009, a decrease of $3,890. In 2008, the indigent cremation contract was renewed. The cost per indigent decedent is currently $300.00 and will be going up to $340.00 starting in May of 2010. There is an increased cost for decedents that are oversized. In August of 1988, because of funding limitations placed on the County’s General Fund, the Board of Supervisors adopted a policy of cremating all deceased indigents. Exceptions to the policy are at the discretion of the Sheriff – Coroner.
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY INDIGENT BURIALS FIVE-YEAR COMPARISON
40
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY INDIGENT BURIALS FIVE-YEAR COMPARISON
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 INDIGENT BURIALS TOTAL
80 101 92 68 60
