Chester County Coroner's Office

24/7 Death Reporting Line: 610-383-7000

Mission Statement

The Chester County Coroner's Office is an independent agency serving the citizens and honoring the deceased of the county by investigating the facts and circumstances concerning jurisdictional deaths which have occurred within Chester County. We determine the cause and manner of death, the identity of the decedent, and provide notification to the legal next of kin, while exhibiting the highest degree of compassion, professionalism, and integrity.

Forms

Survivor's Guide

The Survivors Guide / Guia Para la Famila is provided by the Coroner's office to assist survivors with decision-making and helpful solutions during their time of loss.

Chester County Coroner's Office Hosts Continuing Education Training on Xylazine
0915-Coroners-Office-Xylazine-Training

(More than 160 people, many representing the first responder community, attended the Chester County Coroner’s Office xylazine training event)


The Chester County Coroner’s Office hosted Xylazine: Arrival, Trends & Effects of this Prevalent Drug, its first-ever continuing education training seminar/webinar, on Friday, September 15.

Xylazine is a large animal sedative used as an adulterant in illicit drug mixtures, commonly combined with fentanyl, and is referred to as “Tranq.” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved it for veterinary use only as there are no known uses for human consumption. Xylazine causes tissue necrosis (tissue death) in all body areas, not just at the injection site, leading to sepsis and sometimes amputation, ultimately leading to death.

Over 160 people attended the training in person or virtually. They included staff from the Chester County Coroner’s Office/Medical Examiner’s Office, Department of Emergency Services and Department of Human Services, law enforcement officers, first responders, rehabilitation professionals, and others. Speakers from the FBI, the Chester County Department of Drug & Alcohol Services (D&A), the Coroner’s Office, and others discussed how xylazine has infiltrated the illicit drug scene across the country – including in Chester County – its devastating effects on the human body, and treatment options.

To read the full press release click here.

National Coroner and Medicolegal Death Investigator Appreciation Week (January 23rd-29th)

The Chester County Board of Commissioners proclaimed January 29th, 2023 as National Coroner and Medicolegal Death Investigator Appreciation Day with an official proclamation that you can view HERE. The Coroner's Office appreciates the recognition by the Commissioners, which highlighted the dedication and commitment of our office to the citizens of Chester County. As "last responders" we can experience secondary trauma and emotional fatigue due to the nature of our work, but we continue to work tirelessly to investigate all deaths reported to our office with the utmost integrity and compassion.National Coroner Medicolegal Death Week Proclamation

(from left to right: back row- First Deputy Coroner Jesse Poole-Gulick, Deputy Coroner Greg Allen, Deputy Coroner Devyn Grasso, Chief Deputy Coroner Caroline Johnson, Commissioner Josh Maxwell; front row- Commissioner Michelle Kichline, Coroner's Office Manager Jennifer Polonoli, Coroner Sophia Garcia-Jackson, and Commissioner Marian Moskowitz.)

Current Year Statistical Data

Coroner jurisdiction is over certain kinds of deaths (as detailed in State Statute Title 16 P.S., County Code) that occur within Chester County. The location of the event leading to the death or the residence of the decedent prior to death may in some cases be outside Chester County. Location of death is the governing factor in determining Coroner jurisdiction and inclusion in these data.

2023 Statistics

Manner of Death
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov Dec
Total
Natural
100
74
100
73
84
78
67
68




644
Accidental
18
17
17
21
20
17
18
6




134
Homicide
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0




2
Suicide
7
1
8
3
3
5
7
1




35
Pending
0
0
0
0
1
1
9
34




45
Undetermined
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0




3
Total Cases
126
93
125
98
108
103
101





863

Case Type

Type of Case
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov Dec
Total
Jurisdictional
75
50
49
46
47
51
55
56




373
Non-Jurisdictional
51
43
76
52
61
52
46
53




381
Totals
126
93
125
98
108
103
101
109




754

Accidental Deaths

Type of Accident
Total
Drug Overdose
58
Fall
36
Motor Vehicle Collision
25
Environmental Exposure
0
Drowning
2
Asphyxiation Related
5
Fire Related
0
Poisoning
2
Firearms
0
Other
6
Total Cases
134

Suicides

Type of Suicide
Total
Firearms
19
Hanging
10
Overdose
3
Traumatic Injury
1
Poisoning
1
Other
1
Total Cases
35

Homicides

Type of Homicide
Total
Firearm
2
Sharp Force Injury
0
Other
0
Total Cases
2

Undetermined

Type of Undetermined
Total
Undetermined
2
Firearms
1
Total Cases
3

2023 COVID-19 Deaths Reported to the Coroner's Office

Type of Case
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Total
COVID-19 Deaths
21
9
9
2
2
1
1
1




46

Other Statistics

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
Cremation Requests
293
238
281
205
222
231
208
 




1678
Full/Partial Autopsy
21
18
25
25
23
33
28
33




206
External Autopsy
11
10
6
7
6
7
13
7




67
Toxicology Testing Only
2
4
0
0
1
1
0
0




8
Organ Donors
3
1
3
6
8
5
6
2




34

* Statistics as of September 27th, 2023

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