Fayette coroner releases report for January
Fayette County Coroner Dr. Phillip E. Reilly reported one homicide and three suicides in Fayette County during January. Reilly also reported three deaths during that month as a result of drug overdoses.
He listed eight natural deaths, seven from heart disease and other heart-related conditions and one from stroke.
Reilly said that in January, his office conducted eight autopsies, for James Loy, Robert Andrews, William Mason, Larry Durant, Lenny Burchick, Deborah Shartiger, Mark Cramer and James Kubina.
Reilly also held four inquests during the month, into the unrelated deaths of Michael Kruper, Tania Lewis, Deborah Barton and John Evans Sr.
The coroner’s office holds inquests monthly. The process employs six jurors, plus, generally, two alternates who hear the facts surrounding all unnatural deaths and determine the cause and manner of each death. Reilly is the only coroner in the state to hold inquests regularly.
The total cost for the inquests was $136.80.
Regionally, the office investigated five deaths in Redstone Township, four in Uniontown, two in Perry Township and one each in Belle Vernon, Point Marion and North Union and Bullskin townships.
In a special note, the office investigated another 27 deaths in January that were natural in cause. Those certificates were referred to the family physician for the purpose of accuracy and completeness. Because the deaths were natural, the coroner’s office did not investigate them further.