Beech Tree News Network

Butler County Coroner Gerald M. "Marty" Jones II recently released statistics from his office for 2023.  

In 2023, there were 43 coroner calls made by the Butler County Coroner's Office and 27 provisional death reports signed for cremation. 

Seventy calls were made of them:

• Thirty-two ruled natural deaths.
• Twenty-seven provisional deaths were signed for cremation in 2023; this decreased by 6, with 33 in 2022.
• 4 ruled accidental deaths (vehicle-related)
• 1 Fire-related death (structure fire)
• Two overdose deaths
•  Three suicides occurred in Butler County in 2023
• One rule undetermined after an autopsy was completed
• No pending autopsy and or toxicology results as of January 1, 2024
• 
  

Comparison of 2021-2022

In 2022, there were 35 calls made and 33 provisional deaths signed for cremation; 23 ruled natural death, and none ruled a suicide.

Six ruled accidental deaths (accidental vehicles or motorcycle-related.), five overdose deaths, and one homicide.

So, in 2023, natural deaths increased by 9, and cremation rates decreased by 6, with overdoses reducing by three and vehicle fatalities decreasing the same at 2. Suicide decreased by 3, and there were no homicides. 

Fire deaths increased by one and one undetermined death. The number of autopsies and toxicology went from 11 in 2022 to 12 in 2023.

Of the 70 calls made, 7 cases required autopsies and toxicology reports to be done, and 5 cases required toxicology with no autopsy.

Of all the deaths investigated in 2023, 7 cases had factors that contributed to prescription drugs, alcohol, or illegal drugs, including meth. This increased by 2 in 2023 versus 2022.

For cremation, the coroner or deputy coroner has to sign the provisional death report in which the county of death occurred. This is for the coroner's office to be aware of the death circumstances and authorize the cremation.

In 2022, the Butler County Coroner's Office regularly met with the child fatality review board. This board is required to investigate any death in Butler County under the age of 18. There were three deaths to review in 2023; two of these deaths were Butler County-related but were pronounced in another county.

The Coroner and Deputy Coroners received 18 hours of training each to stay certified through Kentucky; training hours were completed in a classroom in Louisville, KY.  

Public Service Reminder:

• Anyone under the care of Hospice or Hosparus who passes away in Butler Co. is not considered a coroner call and is not required to have the coroner or deputy coroner respond to the location of death unless the death occurred from something other than natural. It is considered a coroner call, and the Coroner's Office must be notified and respond to the death scene.
• Anyone transported to the hospital either by personal vehicle or by ambulance and passes away in the emergency room or is in the hospital in less than 24 hours is turned over to the coroner's office in that county. If they are under the age of 18, the county in which the death occurred and the county in which the accident took place work together in reviewing the death through child fatality review boards.
• 
  

"On behalf of the Coroner's Office, I would like to thank the people of Butler County for trusting me to be the Butler County Coroner. Special thanks to the Butler County EMS, Sheriff's Office, Morgantown City Police, all Volunteer Fire Departments, the Butler County Rescue Squad, and the many individuals who go above and beyond to help their communities and neighbors in need. Without your quick response times, dedication, and advanced training, I am certain our numbers would be much higher," said Jones.

For additional information concerning this report, please get in touch with Gerald "Marty" Jones II @ 270-999-0707.