If the current trend continues, Bartholomew County will break a disturbing record before the new year.
On Aug. 6, the Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office released statistics for its first half of 2020. In the report, it revealed that the county office saw a record number of cases during the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2019.
The numbers are concerning.
From Jan. 1 to June 30, the coroner’s office responded to 96 investigative cases, including 26 accidents, 20 fatal drug overdoses and four homicides. During the same six months last year, there were 66 investigative cases, 17 accidents, nine fatal drug overdoses and one homicide.
Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting said the number of homicides so far this year matches the total of the previous three years combined.
While overall cases have increased, suicides have stayed relatively steady so far compared to last year, and child deaths are down.
None of the 96 deaths certificated by the coroner’s office were due to COVID-19.
According to the coroner’s office, many of the cases have required a higher level of forensic services, including autopsies, which increased to 22 during the first six months of the year, compared to 11 during the same period last year. Autopsies generally cost $1,500 to $1,600 to compete.
Jay Frederick, deputy coroner, said that the overall volume is putting a strain on the office.
The coroner’s office cooperates with agencies who work to reduce preventable deaths, such as the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress (ASAP), Healthy Communities’ Infant Mortality Prevention Team, and Indiana State Department of Health’s Violent Death Registry.
These agencies provide essential services.
One of the many examples can be found at ASAP, which has graduated two different groups of inmates through its new addiction treatment program inside the Bartholomew County Jail this year.
County officials and residents need to continue to support all of the local organizations that help prevent deaths.
The current numbers are worrisome, but services are in place to help.
