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. The assistant prosecutors trying the case argued to have her sentence be at the top of the guidelines and succeeded. Listing for: County of McHenry. Read more Health - Medical Examiner Fees The investigation identified two morgue employees who were "pocketing drugs" from dead bodies, Click on Detroit reported. Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office . The first three charges are each seven-year felonies, and the larceny charge is a four-year felony. Was she whining, overly sensitive? Macomb County Population 840,978 Number of Deaths in Macomb County 6,561 Macomb County Medical Examiners Cases 1,930 (Includes 15 unspecified cases incl. Thirty-two-year-old Jocelyn Fetting and 50-year-old Jacob Kettlewell allegedly stole over a thousand pills from the facility's property room, Fox 2 reported Wednesday. The next day, the cake was still there andthe complainant asked a supervisor if the cake was really decorated with a black penis. Fetting and Kettlewell were bothfired from the medical examiner's office. The offensive cake was served one day after George Floyd died while in police custody, the Detroit Free Press reported. Nobody wants to terminate employees. Struckel, who worked in the field for over 20 years, was fired in September 2020 after three days on the job because she says she reported about 10 violations, including employees not being fit tested for N95 masks worn during autopsies, lack of annual TB testing of employees, lack of radiation monitors during dental x-rays, no training for proper disposal of needles and clinical waste and staff wearing contaminated scrubs home from the morgue, according to the amended complaint filed in December 2020. Commissioners wanted him to be more responsive to questions and expressed concerns about operations. Regarding the new allegations, sheriffs investigators a few months ago followed up on a report of the missing pills. The crude confection lingered in a lunchroom at the Macomb County Medical Examiner's . All rights reserved. The next day, four days after the cake arrived at the office,itwas still there, along with a balloon on a coworker's desk that had a penis hand-drawn onto it witha black magic marker. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Jocelyn Fetting, 32, is accused of taking drugs from the medical examiners office with intent to sell them, officials said. 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. Visit Medical Examiner - Coroner Website. Officers caught up with Carnell Franklin-Smith, 34, and Benjamin Pearce, 29, who had been at the house the day before to transport James Davis' body to the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office. Confiscation of the drugs is used to determine whether a toxicology report stemming from an autopsy matches drugs found at the scene. THREE employees at a morgue in Michigan have been fired after a worker brought a cake decorated with an image of a black penis into the lunch room, according to a report. "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? 1 weather alerts 1 closings . 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. Macomb County officials on Thursday will consider settling a federal lawsuit filed over two years ago by a former morgue employee who claims she was fired for reporting health and safety. The death investigator says that over the years, she has heard multiple racist and insensitive comments from staff when dealing with African American families who have come to the morgue to inquire about their loved ones. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WXMI) The Kent County Medical Examiner ruled a 1-year-old's death a homicide, the Grand Rapids Police Department said Tuesday. Macomb County Medical Examiner Daniel J. Spitz, M.D. 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. Phone: (323) 343-0512. Employees brought in a cake to the office that contained a black penis made of frosting the day after George Floyds death, and pornographic images of mostly men were placed on a wall and computer screen-savers, officials said. 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. In a 2010 autopsy as part of a high-profile investigation, Spitz missed a bullet that was found by another pathologist in the base of the skull of banker David Widlak, whose body was found along the Lake St. Clair shore in Harrison Township. The death investigator recalled one of the morgue workers telling her: "Show them a picture of his penis. December 9, 2022 Two Macomb County employees were fired after allegedly stealing drugs from the medical examiner's office, county officials announced at a news conference Friday. Spitz took over the medical examiner role in the mid-2000s, following in the footsteps of his well-known father, Dr. Werner Spitz. Macomb Daily 3 Woman accused of starving baby to death in Warren rejects plea Shantavia Hayden, 29, who is charged with second-degree murder for the death of her three-month-old daughter,. I do not manage (county) employees, I do not hire, I do not fire, I do not discipline employees, Spitz said. 2023 www.freep.com. 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. Suggest Listing Hayden will spend 27.5 to 50 years in prison. This is the second EEOC complaint to be filed against the Macomb County morgue in recent years. In a workplace dispute that is nowin the hands of the U.S. It was also alleged Black families of deceased individuals were treated differently by morgue employees, and employees who complained were bullied. Third party advertisements support hosting, listing verification, updates, and site maintenance. Autopsy report: Roseville man shot by police had five gunshot wounds, cut wounds on wrists . Mail to Macomb County Clerk, Attn: Death Records, 120 North Main, Mount Clemens, MI 48043. Penis screen savers. Maybe they'll recognize him by that.". "I have witnessed co-workers crying at their desks, crying in the parking lot, and crying in the bathroom of the building," her complaint states. Macomb County to consider settling lawsuit by, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Macomb County to consider settling lawsuit by fired morgue employee, Not again. Forensic Examinations 572 Local deaths (those that occur within the boundaries of Macomb County) that fall under the jurisdiction of The Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office ruled her mom's death an overdose due to multiple prescription drugs. 2. Be that as it may, as stated you are not considered fully vaccinated which is a primary vaccination series less than 270 days ago or a . The next day, the person who made the cake approached the investigator, asking, "Did you try my cake?". Jocelyn Fetting, 32, of Chesterfield, and Jacob Kettlewell, 50, of Oxford, are accused of stealing 1,200 pills from the property room at the office. THREE employees at a morgue in Michigan have been fired after a worker brought a cake decorated with an image of a black penis into the lunch room, according to a report. Three female morgue employees were fired Thursday following a due-process hearing, according to county officials. In addition to the county, defendants include William Ridella, retired director of Macomb County Public Health; Deputy County Executive Andrew McKinnon, who was director of Human Resources at the time; and county Medical Examiner Dr. Daniel Spitz and his company, Spitz Pathology Group. Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said two years ago that some steps of the medical examiners drug disposal process gave him pause. Burial Services. When those families show up at the morgue, she says, "I havebeen told, 'Go deal with your people,' ". "No, I did not have any of it. They also work with Macomb County police and sheriff's offices to investigate suspicious or violent deaths. The two employees fired for taking drugs were investigated, the results of which were provided to the county Prosecutors Office, which did not return a request Monday for an update on the case. Before she was fired, Spitz told her she was over-qualified for the position, she says. More:Friends remember Detroit sports media mainstay Jamie Samuelsen, "There has been an ongoing hostile work environment within the Medical Examiner's Office since I have been here," the July 18 complaint states. Contact the Medical Examiner's office at (586) 469-5214 or email us now. Two Macomb County morgue employees fired for, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Two Macomb County morgue employees fired for stealing drugs, Not again. . She switched to thenight shift for awhile. Kaiyanni Jones, who was 1 year and 11 . 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. 57, died of multiple gunshot wounds, and the manner of death was homicide. A supervisor at the Macomb County morgue has been fired in the wake of a sexism and racism scandal that has cost four women their jobs, and could jeopardize the contract of Chief Medical. According to McKinnon, the current investigation does not involvechief Medical Examiner Dr. Daniel Spitz, who is a contract employee with the county. That employeea death investigator and person of color said she long wanted to report the offensive behavior, but feared retaliation so she stayed quiet. non human bones, tissue, fetuses, etc.) What is there to see and do? During the trial, Medical Examiner Leigh Hlavaty testified that AMar had not been fed for at least seven days. The following death benefits are deducted from the SER payment: The Medical Examiner's office also determines whether or not autopsies should be conducted. Macomb County deputies were called at about 8 a.m. Sunday to the . Self-Service Web. Spitzs inactive role in management was clarified in the new deal approved last December effective Jan. 1. And to prevent this from happening again, the sheriff's office will take custody of medical inventory going forward because they have a better inventory process. The cake was taken into the conference area, which also served as the office lunch room, where it wasshared by morgue workers and supervisors. Job specializations: Administrative/Clerical. February 2, 2023 / 6:38 PM A cake decorated with a black penis has sparked grave allegations of workplace racism at a Michigan morgue. The facility was expanded in 2021. Both Kettlewell and Fetting were arraigned Wednesday (Feb. 1) at 41B District Court. County medical examiner. The Coroner and Medical Examiner determines a deceased person's time and cause of death, often in the case of sudden or unexpected deaths. Your source for Local information & breaking news across southeast Michigan plus 4Warn Weather providing you . (CBS DETROIT) - Two Macomb County workers are charged after stealing drugs from the medical examiner's office. She moved her desk andvolunteered to work weekends to avoid contact with the employees. The board ultimately approved new contracts that year and in 2017. 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. "The office culture is tainted with racism toward people of color. Watch the 5 p.m. news live right now on Local 4+. First of all they are requirements of the country, the Netherlands, to enter the Netherlands and are not municipal requirements to enter the city of Amsterdam. Hayden brought the 7-month-old to the emergency room where a physician tried to save the baby's life. Hours and Location DETROIT (FOX 2) - Keith Appling was sentenced to 18-40 years in prison following his guilty plea for a fatal shooting in 2021. The Coroner and Medical Examiner determines a deceased person's time and cause of death, often in the case of sudden or unexpected deaths. While authorities were interviewing all the employees, Fetting and Kettlewell admitted to pocketing drugs. A fourth employee remains on paid administrative leave as investigators. After the public controversy, Macomb County added new provisions to its contract with Chief Medical Examiner Daniel Spitz, who has held the position since 2004. Three female morgue workers were fired as part of the investigation last week. The death investigatorsays that she has often been given the responsibility of identifying the bodies of African Americans whose families have been considered "hostile" or "difficult" by office staff. The death investigator says multiple people have complained about the "unprofessional decorum" in the past, but to no avail. 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. People complained, she claims. How do I use public transport? / CBS Detroit. Officials said they noticed 20 hydrocodone pain pills had gone missing, and there were 19 employees with access to the property room. Another one alleging similar claims was filed in 2016 and is still pending. I prepared the contract and submitted it to the county, he said. Copyright 2023 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. During the probe, sheriffs investigators questioned the entire staff of 19. Throughout the investigation, the sheriff's office interviewed all 19 employees who had access to the property room, Wickersham said. These can include Macomb County death certificates, local and Michigan State death registries, and the National Death Index. Assistant prosecutors John Pietrofesa and Andrew McGarrow tried the case, calling . The investigator noted that she did questionherself before coming forward. The deal includes an opt-out with 90 days notice. Details of a proposed deal are not provided in meeting documents. 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. 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. Perform death investigations that occur within Macomb County, prepares detailed reports and analysis on investigation of cases, identify deceased's . 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Two Macomb County employees were fired after allegedly stealing drugs from the medical examiner's office, county officials announced at a news conference Friday. More:Many families could see drastically smaller tax refunds in 2023: Heres why, More:Oxford school officials: Ethan Crumbley's parents never refused to take him home. An application for burial assistance must be made no later than 10 business days after the burial, cremation or donation takes place. The Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner, located in Clinton, MI, keeps death records for individuals who passed away in Clinton. Expect More from Local 4 News at 5. 43585 Elizabeth Rd All rights reserved. A pathologist who studies the cause and effects of disease and injury, then gathers specimens of the organs and body fluids for testing. 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.. Terms and Conditions. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports. They learned the entire staff had access to the evidence room, which Hackel and Wickersham said is highly improper. Key Information Hours Staff are available to take your calls Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 586-469-5214. Spitz said prior contract language was vague as to his role in the office and that he was the who proposed the new language that was accepted by the county administration. 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. The Medical Examiner's office will be closed on the following days: Medical Examiner - Frequently Asked Questions. "So what we decided to do was come up with more stringent protocols in place for us to have oversight to give us access to understanding more of what was being done over there, (this evidence room) was one of those areas that kind of came out as being problematic.". The Medical Examiner's office also determines whether or not autopsies should be conducted. "We dont want anyone working in a place thats unwelcoming, unsafe and not inclusive," said Macomb County Human Resources Director Andrew McKinnon. But when she thought about the cake, her blood boiled. They discovered minimal oversight of the evidence room and the chain of custody for items, often drugs, taken from death scenes, officials said. "The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office does not investigate and does not try cases in the media. He or she then prepares a written autopsy report. All Rights Reserved. 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. According to the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Officer, Robertson died from multiple blunt force injuries. According to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, Jocelyn Fetting, 32, is. The Macomb County morgue is buriedin scandalinvolving allegationsof all sorts: Employeesmocked Blacks inquiring about loved ones' deaths, hung pornographyin the office, bullied women who complained and recently brought in a birthdaycake frosted with male genitalia artfor fun, according to a formal complaint. To sign up for email updates from Macomb County or to access your subscriber preferences, please enter your email address. The Medical Examiner's office also determines whether or not autopsies should be conducted. The Medical Examiner's office investigates deaths due to violence, accidents and those not attended by a physician. 2023 www.freep.com. Struckel initially complained to Spitz and then to Ridella and McKinnon. In the same week that George Floyd was killed, a cake decorated with a Black penison it showed up in the conference room at the Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office. Find 4 Coroners & Medical Examiners within 35.3 miles of Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner. Both employees were fired in December. But nothing was ever done, not even after another person filed a sexual harassment complaint against the Macomb County morgue with the EEOC in 2016, alleging a hostile work environment. Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner/Coroner's Office. Hackel requested more control over that part of the operation. County Office is not affiliated with any government agency. Apr. Jocelyn Fetting, 32, is accused of. ", More:Mitch Albom: Burying the unclaimed dead shows the greatest respect for life. When the parents arrived, theyhad difficulty identifying the body, unsure that it was their son. Jacob Kettlewell, 50, is accused of taking an occasional pill from the medical examiners office and consuming it, according to authorities. 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. The tipping point was when a cake, decorated with a Black penis on it, was seen in the county medical examiner's conference room the same week that George Floyd died, the Free Press reported. The county Board of Commissioners on Thursday is scheduled to go into closed session to discuss settlement of the lawsuit. Secretary /Deputy Coroner. Can you suggest a cheap hotel? In 2017, there were 110 deaths related to heroin According to the complainant, there have been "blatant and overt racist communications" among a supervisor and other employees who are all part of the sameoffice clique. That role was fully granted to county officials. According to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, Jocelyn Fetting, 32, is charged with conspiracy with intent to deliver, delivery of suboxone, delivery of Adderall and larceny of a building. Information found on CountyOffice.org is strictly for informational purposes and does not construe legal, financial or medical advice. Its sad, Hackel said. Los Angeles County Office of Decedent Affairs (County Morgue/Cemetery) Phone: (323) 409-7161. einouye@dhs.lacounty.gov. The investigator responded no, then asked if she herself had frosted the cake with a black penis. Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said the medical examiners office had drugs so it could compare it to medication found in toxicology reports. The legal action was unrelated to scandals at the morgue within the past three years, although both situations are mentioned briefly in documents in the lawsuit. On May 26the day after George Floyd died while being arrested in Minneapolis, inflaming the nation a staff member who was not on duty brought in a medium-sized sheet cake that had been decorated with a black penis. Contact Emma Stein: estein@freepress.com and follow her on Twitter @_emmastein. "Were supposed to set an example. Find 4 Coroners & Medical Examiners within 36.2 miles of Wayne County Medical Examiner & Coroner. Popularity:#7 of 83 Coroners & Medical Examiners in Michigan#158 in Coroners & Medical Examiners. was a question she often heard when dealing with upset families, she said. The Wayne County Medical Examiner & Coroner creates death records that can be used in criminal investigations, to resolve insurance claims, or to monitor Detroit public health.
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