Coroner issues report
There were no homicides in Fayette County in July, according to a report released by coroner Dr. Phillip E. Reilly.
In his summary of monthly activity, Reilly reported one suicide, one drowning death and two deaths from a plane crash.
Reilly listed seven natural deaths in May, five from heart disease and other heart-related conditions and one each from pulmonary disease and carcinoma. During July, the coroner conducted eight autopsies: for Stanley Andrews, Donald Haney, Donald Wiley, Adriane Evans, William Richards, Jessica Lewis and Henry and Joanne Loreneztti.
Reilly held three inquests during the month. They involved the deaths of Jason Halfhill, Ray Paul and Andrew Berdar. The inquests cost $199.62.
The coroner’s office generally 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.
Regionally, the office investigated three deaths in Connellsville, two each in North Union, Redstone and Jefferson townships and Uniontown, and one each in Bullskin and Saltlick townships.
In a special note, the office investigated another 19 deaths in July 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.