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.

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.)

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.

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 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
20
9










29

2023 Statistics

Manner of Death
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov Dec
Total
Natural
98
68










166
Accidental
17
11










28
Homicide
0
0










0
Suicide
7
1










8
Pending
4
13










17
Undetermined
0
0










0
Total Cases
126
93










219

Case Type

Type of Case
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov Dec
Total
Jurisdictional
76
48










124
Non-Jurisdictional
50
45










95
Totals
126
93










219

Accidental Deaths

Type of Accident
Total
Drug Overdose
12
Fall
8
Motor Vehicle Collision
5
Environmental Exposure
0
Drowning
0
Asphyxiation Related
1
Fire Related
0
Poisoning
1
Firearms
0
Other
1
Total Cases
28

Suicides

Type of Suicide
Total
Firearms
4
Hanging
3
Overdose
0
Traumatic Injury
0
Poisoning
0
Other
1
Total Cases
8

Homicides

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

Undetermined

Type of Undetermined
Total
Undetermined
0
Total Cases
0

Other Statistics

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
Cremation Requests






   





Full/Partial Autopsy
21
18










39
External Autopsy
11
10










21
Toxicology Testing Only
2
4










6
Organ Donors
3
1










4

* Statistics as of March 24th, 2023

Links