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Teller County Coroner's Office

Earl B. Byrne MD, MPH - Coroner

Deputy Coroners: Al Born and Vicki Winter

Coroner Duties:
The Office of County Coroner is an elective office mandated by C.R.S. 30-10-601.  The Coroner documents the cause and manner of all Teller County deaths.  The Coroner's duties include:

  -Pronouncement of death
    -Death scene investigation, as needed
    -Notification of next-of-kin
    -Identification of deceased
    -Medicolegal investigation* of the death
    -Determination of need for autopsy & other tests
    -Determination of cause & manner of death
    -Completion of Death Certificate

*The Teller County Coroner carries out the medicolegal death investigation process via:
    -Evaluation of deceased's medical history
    -Interview of witnesses, family, friends, neighbors, etc.
    -Autopsy, as needed
    -Toxicology, radiology, fingerprint ID, as needed
    -Use of forensic experts in fields of pathology, genetics, etc.

Teller County Coroner's Office Facts & Information

Percent of Teller County deaths requiring autopsies, by year:

29% in 2000 (20 of 69 deaths)

32% in 1999 (16 of 50 deaths)

39% in 1998 (21 of 54 deaths)

42.5% in 1997 (17 of 40 deaths)

47.5% in 1996 (19 of 40 deaths)

In 1999, 70% of all deaths in Teller County were determined to be "natural" in manner. In 2000 that percentage increased to 77%.

"The high percentage of 'Natural' deaths underscores the need to have a Coroner with an extensive clinical background so that the deceased's medical history is readily understandable and an accurate cause of death can be determined without resorting to a costly and unnecessary autopsy."