Coroner Does Not Know Where Body Is Or What Was Done With The Body Or Who The Body Is
Rickey StokesViewed: 16008
Posted by: RStokes
Date: Jan 18 2013 7:15 PM
HEADLAND: We contacted Henry County Coroner Derek Wright to see if the body found earlier this week on Cleveland Street had been identified and what the cause of death was.
Coroner Wright said he had no knowledge. Coroner Wright said he was not contacted by law enforcement to come get the body, was not aware of the identity of the body, where the body was transported or where the body was located.
We checked the records and the people of Henry County elected Derek Wright as Henry County Coroner. No other person was elected to the office. When there is a dead person that died as a result of an act of another or when a person dies which is not under the care of a physician, the Coroner is suppose to be called.
Headland Police did not call the Coroner on this death.
A farmer contacted Headland Police when a skull was found in the field. Headland Police responded to the scene. They contacted agents of Alabama Bureau of Investigation, who responded and was on the scene, waited for Alabama Bureau of Investigation to bring their crime scene unit from their headquarters in Dothan, contacted Houston County Sheriff Department for their Crime Scene vehicle. The Houston County Sheriff Department had to respond to the Houston County Farm Center and get the vehicle and then respond to Headland.
Headland Police contacted Henry County – Abbeville Task Force to respond which responded from Headland.
Henry County Coroner Derek Wright is less than four (4) blocks from the scene and was not notified and has never been notified to come pick up the body.
Coroner Wright said this is the third time Headland Police has been delayed in notifying him of a death. He did go to the scene but left. He was never called back.
The Dothan Police Crime Scene Investigator left the scene. The scene had been contaminated with to many persons inside the scene. If there was foul play to much had been done to destroy evidence.
The afternoon the body was found a Headland Police Officer remained on the scene all night. Then Headland Officer returned the next day. The Coroner does not know what has happened and no one with Headland Police Department has had the respect to contact and update him with any information.
This has not been unusual with Headland and their interaction with other Henry County agencies. Often times the Henry County Sheriff Department is never notified when something happens in Headland such as a robbery. This is of great danger and could cause a deputy to be killed.
When the Headland Police Officer was required to use deadly physical force, not one single time did the Headland Mayor Ray Marlor or Headland Police Chief ever defend their officer in his actions. He was justified in his use of deadly physical force, but both the Mayor of Headland and Headland Police Chief allowed their officers to be beat up on by a radical racial group. They never defended the officers.
They need to take a lesson from Ozark Police Chief Tony Spivey!
The Coroner has several actions which could be taken against the Headland Police Officers on the scene.
According to the Code of Alabama, the following criminal offenses could apply:
Section 13A-10-2
Obstructing governmental operations.
(a) A person commits the crime of obstructing governmental operations if, by means of intimidation, physical force or interference or by any other independently unlawful act, he:
(1) Intentionally obstructs, impairs or hinders the administration of law or other governmental function; or
(2) Intentionally prevents a public servant from performing a governmental function.
(b) This section does not apply to the obstruction, impairment or hindrance of the making of an arrest.
(c) Obstructing governmental operations is a Class A misdemeanor.
(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §4505.)
Section 13A-11-13
Abuse of corpse.
(a) A person commits the crime of abuse of a corpse if, except as otherwise authorized by law, he knowingly treats a human corpse in a way that would outrage ordinary family sensibilities. Abuse of a corpse may include knowingly and willfully signing a certificate as having embalmed, cremated, or prepared a human body for disposition when, in fact, the services were not performed as indicated.
(b) Abuse of a corpse is a Class C felony.
(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §5560; Act 2002-239, p. 498, §1.)
Section 13A-10-10
Impersonating public servant.
(a) A person commits the crime of impersonating a public servant if he falsely pretends to be a public servant and does any act in that capacity.
(b) It is no defense to a prosecution under this section that the office the actor pretended to hold did not in fact exist.
(c) Impersonating a public servant is a Class C misdemeanor.
(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §4545.)
NOTE: Someone will be required to sign the death certificate. There is only one Coroner who is charged with the duty, however he must first be called to the death. So who will sign the death certificate?
Section 13A-10-129
Tampering with physical evidence.
(a) A person commits the crime of tampering with physical evidence if, believing that an official proceeding is pending or may be instituted, and acting without legal right or authority, he:
(1) Destroys, mutilates, conceals, removes or alters physical evidence with intent to impair its use, verity or availability in the pending or prospective official proceeding; or
(2) Knowingly makes, presents or offers any false physical evidence with intent that it be introduced in the pending or prospective official proceeding.
(b) "Physical evidence," as used in this section, includes any article, object, document, record or other thing of physical substance.
(c) Tampering with physical evidence is a Class A misdemeanor.
(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §5045.)
NOTE: Moving the body or bones without Coroner notification, that is tampering with the evidence the Coroner needs in order to make his determination of death.
The Headland Police Department is out of line in this issue. They are out of line when they do not share the information that a major crime has occurred with other Henry County agencies.
But if the way the Headland Mayor supported his officers which were involved in a traumatic situation is an indication of how he performs his duties, then he will do nothing.
Sorry Headland that you have someone in office who refuses to be a leader of integrity. Maybe next time.
<- back