CORONER UNIT

IAN PARKINSON IS THE ELECTED SHERIFFCORONER

of San Luis Obispo County. Deputy sheriffs also function as deputy coroners and perform the role of coroner in all jurisdictions within San Luis Obispo County. The California Government Code mandates that the coroner investigate the manner and cause of death in most cases where the death occurred outside of a hospital or presence of a physician, and in all cases involving homicide, suicide, accidental deaths, and deaths due to suspicious circumstances.

In cases that require an in-depth investigation or where greater expertise is needed, the Sheriff’s Office has the Coroner Unit within the Investigative Services Bureau. The Coroner Unit is comprised of a sergeant, three detectives, a legal clerk, a forensic pathologist, and a part-time forensic autopsy technician. The three detectives are highly trained and specialize in determining the manner of death. Of the 334 cases formally investigated by the Coroner Unit in 2021, 85 autopsies were performed, 182 external examinations were performed, and 67 medical record reviews were completed.

Of the deaths investigated in 2021: 81 were certified as natural causes, 46 were suicides, 2 were homicides, 124 were accidental, one was undetermined, and the remainder were still under investigation or being finalized at the end of the year.

In 2021, San Luis Obispo County experienced a significant surge in drug-related deaths. Fentanyl and methamphetamine were present in a majority of the drug-related death cases. Between 2016 and 2019, there were approximately 45–55 drug-related deaths per year. There was a significant increase to 88 drug-related deaths in 2020. In 2021 the Coroner’s Office has had 95 confirmed drug-related death cases with 27 cases presumed to be drug-related and are pending toxicology results at the time of this report.

The Coroner Unit is honored to serve the citizens of San Luis Obispo County during the difficult times associated with unattended or unexpected deaths.

In 2021, the Coroner Unit reviewed 1,982 reportable deaths that occurred in San Luis Obispo County. Patrol Deputies responded to 699 unexpected deaths and conducted preliminary investigations. Coroner detectives reviewed those cases to determine whether further investigation was needed. Ultimately, the Coroner Unit conducted 334 investigations that led to autopsy, review of medical records, or an external examination to determine the manner and cause of death. It is the responsibility of the coroner to determine the necessary level of inquiry into any death that falls within its jurisdiction. The level of inquiry is determined on a case-by-case basis and completed in consultation with a decedent’s treating physician(s) and/or the forensic pathologist.

Each coroner detective is responsible for certifying the death certificate on each decedent subject to their investigations. Coroner detectives also review death certificates for which a treating physician has determined the cause of death in a case appropriately referred to the Coroner.