Kaiyanni Jones, who was 1 year and 11 . Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, three female employees with the Medical Examiner's office were fired last week for alleged workplace misbehavior that one workersays went on for at least five years. The next day, the cake was still there andthe complainant asked a supervisor if the cake was really decorated with a black penis. The ex-morgue technicians were . Terms and Conditions. The Free Press has agreed to withhold the employee's name at this time because of the nature of the complaint and her concerns about retaliation. And things have gotten worse, says the death investigator, alleging:"Within the past two years, the hostile work environment has progressively worsened and the harassment has amplified. Many families could see drastically smaller tax refunds in 2023: Heres why, Oxford school officials: Ethan Crumbley's parents never refused to take him home, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Third party advertisements support hosting, listing verification, updates, and site maintenance. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Prescription drugs were being brought to the medical examiners property room alongside bodies -- for example, if a death was being investigated as a possible overdose. Both employees were fired in December. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Abuse of prescription medications along with heroin and fentanyl/fentanyl-analogs continue to be major concerns in Macomb County. Hackel and Sheriff Anthony Wickersham did not reveal the type of drugs that the employees allegedly pilfered. 2. Now that the investigation is complete, the appropriate charges have been brought against the two former medical examiner's employees," said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in a press release. institut dsw - News - macomb county morgue death. Friends remember Detroit sports media mainstay Jamie Samuelsen, Mitch Albom: Burying the unclaimed dead shows the greatest respect for life, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy, A decomposed body of an African American male had arrived at the morgue. They'll just say they were upset,' " states the complaint. According to McKinnon, the current investigation does not involvechief Medical Examiner Dr. Daniel Spitz, who is a contract employee with the county. Contract position. An application for burial assistance must be made no later than 10 business days after the burial, cremation or donation takes place. A death investigator. MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. (FOX 2) - Two employees with the Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office are facing charges after authorities allege they stole drugs from people at the morgue. The dispute is now in the hands of the U.S. Kettlewell is charged with larceny less than $200 and controlled substance use. Macomb County Medical Examiner Daniel J. Spitz, M.D. They learned the entire staff had access to the evidence room, which Hackel and Wickersham said is highly improper. Clinton Twp. I mean, as large as the sheriffs office is -- I have four people that have access to our property room. Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner (Clinton, MI - 19.5 miles) . U.S. District Judge Terreance Berg wrote In his 2021 ruling to dismiss the public-policy claim but maintain the free speech and whistleblower protection claims that Spitzs exact role was not clear but that he did have some influence in decision-making at the time of Struckels firing. (CBS DETROIT) - Two Macomb County workers are charged after stealing drugs from the medical examiner's office. Wickersham compared that to his department, where only four people have access to the evidence room, and he is not one of them. Investigators said the chain of drug custody caught their eye, and some workers were concerned about people pocketing some of the drugs. 200,000 lose power as snowstorm blankets Detroit region, St. Mary student to compete in her fourth Macomb County Regional Spelling Bee, Macomb County prepares for inclement weather, Warren man charged with 2nd-degree murder in Royal Oak womans death, Ford to raise production as US auto sales start to recover, Man arraigned in Warren Dollar General robberies, Lorenzo Cultural Centers new program series highlights post-WWII societal change presentations, performances and exhibits, Macomb Sheriff switches motorcycle unit from Harley-Davidson to BMW, SE Michigan under winter storm warning; 6-8 inches of snow expected, Warren man charged with 2nd-degree murder in Royal Oak woman's death, Detroit firefighter charged with dealing drugs in several Macomb County cities, Sterling Heights mom has spent months looking for son, Ray Twp. was a question she often heard when dealing with upset families, she said. Hayden brought the 7-month-old to the emergency room where a physician tried to save the baby's life. February 2, 2023 / 6:38 PM In 2018, the most recent year for which data are available, the Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office investigated 3,061 deaths, performed 531 complete autopsies, 121 external examinations. A fourth employee remains on paid administrative leave as investigators. While authorities were interviewing all the employees, Fetting and Kettlewell admitted to pocketing drugs. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. That is not funny.". The Macomb County Medical Examiner's office confirmed Scott's identity, but could not confirm an official cause of death as a toxicology report is still pending. Copyright 2023 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Address, Phone Number, and Fax Number for Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner, a Coroner & Medical Examiner, at Elizabeth Street, Clinton MI. 1 weather alerts 1 closings . Macomb, Oakland, Saginaw, Sanilac, St. Clair, Tuscola, Wayne 313-577-2890 business hours 313-577-1198 after hours/weekends In no case may a funeral director apply for SER for an unclaimed body. macomb county morgue death. "Were supposed to set an example. Morgue employees often take medicine found at a crime scene to compare it to the result of a toxicology report, said Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel. FOX 2 Detroit. Fraser City Clerk 33000 Garfield Road Fraser, MI 48026 586-293-1877 Directions. The balloon was there for three days. Job in Woodstock - McHenry County - IL Illinois - USA , 60098. She was told by a county lawyer she was not a good fit and was an at-will employee, the lawsuit says. The Macomb County Health Department operates the Medical Examiner's (ME) office, which is charged with investigating deaths due to violence, accidents and those not attended by a physician. 5MOUNT CLEMENS A former investigator with the Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office is suing the directors of multiple county agencies, claiming they allowed a work environment that . The county sheriff's office conducted a . The prosecutor sad Hayden had enough food and financial assistance to keep the baby fed and had received 16 cans of formula during A'Mar's life - including seven of them just three days before he died. Its sad, Hackel said. "All these cities are on fire for the Black Lives Matter movement, and here's my staff eating a black penis cake as a joke? Fetting is charged with conspiracy to commit controlled substance - delivery/manufacture, two counts of controlled substance delivery/manufacture, and larceny in a building. "I was lividfurious actually," the woman said in a recent interview with the Free Press. A fourth employee a manager is on paid-leave, according to The Macomb Daily, after the four employees reportedly displayed pornographic photos in the office and on their computers. Two former Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office employees are facing charges in connection with the theft of prescription medications from storage. Over the last five years, the death investigator says she's been forced to work in a cliquey environment where sex is often joked about, especially male genitalia. Information found on CountyOffice.org is strictly for informational purposes and does not construe legal, financial or medical advice. The jury returned a guilty verdict two hours after getting the case. At a Friday morning news conference held at the offices of the Communications and Technology Center and Roads Department in Mount Clemens, Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel announced two. The death investigator recalled one of the morgue workers telling her: "Show them a picture of his penis. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. A death investigator at the Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office filed a July 18 complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regarding the explicit cake an off-duty staffer . Posted: April 16, 2021. The first three charges are each seven-year felonies, and the larceny charge is a four-year felony. About Us Contact Us When those families show up at the morgue, she says, "I havebeen told, 'Go deal with your people,' ". Phone: (323) 343-0512. They did note a separate incident where 20 hydrocodone pills went missing from the evidence room, but said they do not know who took them. 2023 www.freep.com. Secretary /Deputy Coroner. The 50-year-old man and 32-year-old woman, both morgue technicians, were dismissed following a Sheriffs Office investigation into 20 missing hydrocodone pills that should have made it to the evidence room but did not. Can you suggest a cheap hotel? Location Accidents in Macomb County are a major cause of property damage, injury, and death each year. I do not manage (county) employees, I do not hire, I do not fire, I do not discipline employees, Spitz said. Because of that, the county recently instituted improved protocols for the chain of evidence, and the property room has been moved to the nearby Sheriffs Office, officials said. Hackel requested more control over that part of the operation. A Macomb County couple is facing murder charges in the Christmas Day death of their 18-month-old daughter who had enough fentanyl in her to kill several adults, authorities said Monday. Please enter valid email address to continue. The Macomb Daily reported that the four employees, a group comprised of a two morgue technicians, an investigator and the manager, were fired on Thursday following a July 18 complaint issued by another employee. The assistant prosecutors trying the case argued to have her sentence be at the top of the guidelines and succeeded. Morgue employees often. The 32-year-old woman stole drugs. Printed images of naked men and penis-shaped confetti scattered on desks, counters and the floor. Thats not a good policy to have with an evidence room, Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said. Privacy Policy They also work with Macomb County police and sheriff's offices to investigate suspicious or violent deaths. View map of Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner, and get driving directions from your location. The offensive cake was. Three female morgue workers were fired as part of the investigation last week. Not only was the cake offensive, says one investigator, but it highlighteda chronic problem at the morgue that has now cost three employees their jobs. They involved one worker bringing in a cake with a Black penis in its frosting the day after the murder of George Floyd. "Are they a black family?" Assistant prosecutors John Pietrofesa and Andrew McGarrow tried the case, calling . Nine months later, a Ferndale man overdosed on multiple prescription pain . In 2013, the county Board of Commissioners balked at renewing his contract after former employees accused Spitz of a tyrannical regime and forcing them out after he took over. For the second time in three years, employees have been fired from the Macomb County morgue for wrongful behavior. This is the second time in three years the medical examiner's office has come under fire. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for Macomb County Morgue locations in Adair, MI. They were fired. Jocelyn Fetting, 32, is accused of. The Coroner and Medical Examiner determines a deceased person's time and cause of death, often in the case of sudden or unexpected deaths. The missing hydrocodone pills were not recovered. "We dont want anyone working in a place thats unwelcoming, unsafe and not inclusive," said Macomb County Human Resources Director Andrew McKinnon. Macomb, MI. Burial Services. The deal includes an opt-out with 90 days notice. Jacob Kettlewell, 50, is accused of taking an occasional pill from the medical examiners office and consuming it, according to authorities. Was she whining, overly sensitive? The following death benefits are deducted from the SER payment: Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office . Ex-morgue. I dont even have access, nor want access, to the property room.. Mt. They can break the doors and nothing will happen to them with everything going on, because they are black. Expect More from Local 4 News at 5. The death investigator asked why that was permitted, but got no response. There was one gunshot wound to the head entering on the right cheek . Apr. HURON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (FOX 2) - Police say an employee working for the Wayne County Morgue used his position to stake out potential victims and even had a cover story in the event he got. The complainant was told the Free Press that she wanted to report the conduct sooner but feared retalitation from co-workers. Find Macomb County Death Records Macomb County Death Records are documents relating to an individual's death in Macomb County, Michigan. (CBS DETROIT) - Two Macomb County workers are charged after stealing drugs from the medical examiner's office. Both employees were fired in December. The Free Press did not identify the individual, but described her as a death investigator who worked at the morgue as well as a person of color. Find 4 Coroners & Medical Examiners within 35.3 miles of Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner. She was terminated because she failed to pass her probationary period and was told by McKinnon she was provided the countys standard letter for that type of termination, the lawsuit says. Staff are available to take your calls Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at (586) 469-5214. Struckel, who resided in Wayne County at the time the lawsuit was filed, had relocated from Seattle, where she worked in forensic medicine for the Seattle King County Public Health Medical Examiners Office and the Kitsap County Coroners Office in Washington State. When she worked for the state, she was the subject matter expert during compliance and accreditation inspections by the National Association of Medical Examiners, Food & Drug Administration and American Association of Tissue Banks inspections for compliance and accreditation, the lawsuit says. Please contact the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office at 313-833-2504 to find out how to obtain a copy of the autopsy report. Three female morgue employees were fired Thursday following a due-processhearing, according to county officials. The area the county should look at is the chain of command that oversees the Medical Examiners Office, which falls under the county Health Department. Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. The Macomb County Health Department operates the Medical Examiner's (ME) office, which is charged with investigating deaths due to violence, accidents and those not attended by a physician. This is the second EEOC complaint to be filed against the Macomb County morgue in recent years. Two former employees of Michigan's Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office stand accused of stealing drugs from bodies at the morgue. The 2020 firings prompted the county and Spitz to insert language into his new contract with the county, effective Jan. 1, 2022, to clarify he does not manage the office. You may not use this site for the purposes of furnishing consumer reports about search subjects or for any use prohibited by the FCRA. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, The Detroit Free Press reported. I think you want to figure out how you manage these employees but, lets face it, at times, you do have folks who have issues.. His tenure has included additional controversies. The data and information provided herein is intended for the private non-commercial use of the general public. Read more Health - Medical Examiner Fees The office identifies bodies, notifies the next of kin, and returns personal belongings to the family. At a Friday morning news conference held at the offices of the Communications and Technology Center and Roads Department in Mount Clemens, Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel announced two morgue employees were terminated last week and likely will face criminal charges for stealing drugs collected at death scenes and on their way to an evidence room. 57, died of multiple gunshot wounds, and the manner of death was homicide. They both received $5,000 personal bonds and will be back in court in May. Before she was fired, Spitz told her she was over-qualified for the position, she says. When the investigatorcalled 911 and a supervisor to report the incident, the supervisor "later called back and said, 'Are they black? Find 4 Coroners & Medical Examiners within 36.2 miles of Wayne County Medical Examiner & Coroner. A Roseville man who was fatally shot by police on April 26 after a crash in Roseville loved to fish, was a Green Bay Packers fan and was generous with his time and money, according to an online obituary.. Frank Robles, 57, was a Roseville resident for 46 years and a graduate of Brablec High School, according to the obituary on the Kaul Funeral Home website.