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Coroner accused of stealing drugs |
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Written by DeadGirl
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Friday, 14 January 2005 |
Medication taken from deceased, officials say
By LINDA SPICE
Jan. 12, 2005
The Rock County coroner was arrested this week on allegations of taking prescription drugs from death scenes and pocketing cremation fees, authorities in Rock County said Wednesday.
Karen Gilbertson, 60, was arrested Tuesday, booked at the Rock County Jail and released with a mandatory court date of Jan. 24. She could be charged with one count each of misconduct in public office; delivery of a controlled substance; possession of a schedule II controlled substance (narcotic); and theft of drugs, according to Rock County District Attorney David O'Leary.
Gilbertson's arrest came just a day after Rock County sheriff's officials first learned from former chief deputy coroner Melissa Haverly, 24, that Gilbertson could be involved in illegal activities.
Haverly said Wednesday that she was in the process of filing a grievance with the county about the coroner's office when Gilbertson found out about her actions and "feared these things were going to come up in a grievance hearing."
"I was wrongfully fired on Friday," Haverly said. "She fired me under retaliation."
Haverly declined to discuss any further details of the case. However, a court document reviewed by The Janesville Gazette said Haverly told investigators that Gilbertson "steals prescription drugs when we take medication, such as painkillers, from a deceased person's home."
Haverly said Gilbertson offered her drugs several times, including morphine Jan. 3, but she declined, the document said.
Barbara Collins, the former assistant coroner, told investigators she saw Gilbertson take prescription painkillers seized during death investigations and keep them for her personal use, storing them in her desk and elsewhere in the office, the document said.
Gilbertson, who was first elected coroner in 1994, did not return a phone call left at her home on Wednesday.
Investigators executed a search warrant Tuesday at the coroner's office, 3715 Newville Road, Janesville, seeking death investigation records; prescription medications/drugs and records; cremation fee records; and coroner activity reports. Investigators also searched Gilbertson's home in Clinton with her consent, taking additional items out of her house, according to O'Leary.
The search warrant findings had not been filed as of late Tuesday with the Rock County clerk of courts but O'Leary said investigators had sought "any and all types of prescription drugs."
He said investigators are also pursuing allegations that Gilbertson "had taken money" involving cremation fees.
O'Leary said fellow county employees have expressed "surprise and disbelief at this point" about the case.
Because he has worked with the coroner in the past, he said he has a call in to the state attorney general's office in the event that a conflict develops during the investigation and he may have to call for assistance. So far he has not made that request, however.
O'Leary said the county has requested mutual aid from neighboring coroner's offices in Dane, Green, Jefferson and Walworth counties.
Melanie Fonder, a spokeswoman for Gov. Jim Doyle's office, said the governor's office has the power of removal of the coroner under state statutes but is waiting to determine whether Gilbertson would resign.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/jan05/292546.asp |
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