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. Prescription drugs were being brought to the medical examiners property room alongside bodies -- for example, if a death was being investigated as a possible overdose. They involved one worker bringing in a cake with a Black penis in its frosting the day after the murder of George Floyd. That is not funny.". "I find this conduct and these statements offensive and appalling," states the complaint, which also alleges numerous sexual harassment incidents. Patch has reached out to Macomb County officials for additional information. "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? They were given a $5,000 personal bond. They did note a separate incident where 20 hydrocodone pills went missing from the evidence room, but said they do not know who took them. She moved her desk andvolunteered to work weekends to avoid contact with the employees. Two former employees of Michigan's Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office stand accused of stealing drugs from bodies at the morgue. "Were supposed to set an example. 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. Jacob Kettlewell, 50, is accused of taking an occasional pill from the medical examiners office and consuming it, according to authorities. Before she was fired, Spitz told her she was over-qualified for the position, she says. The next court date is scheduled for May 9. Read more Health - Medical Examiner Fees What is there to see and do? "I have witnessed prior employees resign due to constant bullying and ridicule for 'not being onboard'with the office culture," the new complaint states. Drug-related deaths have been a significant problem over the past several years and hit an all-time high in 2017 (380 deaths). All rights reserved. Confiscation of the drugs is used to determine whether a toxicology report stemming from an autopsy matches drugs found at the scene. (CBS DETROIT) - Two Macomb County workers are charged after stealing drugs from the medical examiner's office. Contract position. was a question she often heard when dealing with upset families, she said. 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. The investigation identified two morgue employees who were "pocketing drugs" from dead bodies, Click on Detroit reported. The employees, a 50-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, allegedly took some drugs instead of properly disposing of them. Last month, former . The county sheriff's office conducted a . The Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner, located in Clinton, MI, keeps death records for individuals who passed away in Clinton. . obtained from the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office through a Freedom of Information . Posted: April 16, 2021. Two former employees of the Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office were charged Wednesday with several crimes relating to stolen prescription medication from the morgue. The investigation has been going on for a "few months.". A pathologist who studies the cause and effects of disease and injury, then gathers specimens of the organs and body fluids for testing. They discovered minimal oversight of the evidence room and the chain of custody for items, often drugs, taken from death scenes, officials said. The Coroner and Medical Examiner determines a deceased person's time and cause of death, often in the case of sudden or unexpected deaths. I prepared the contract and submitted it to the county, he said. 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. "The office culture is tainted with racism toward people of color. Macomb County Medical Examiner Daniel J. Spitz, M.D. Visit Medical Examiner - Coroner Website. 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. While authorities were interviewing all the employees, Fetting and Kettlewell admitted to pocketing drugs. The Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner creates death records that can be used in criminal investigations, to resolve insurance claims, or to monitor Clinton public health. (586) 469-5214. Your source for Local information & breaking news across southeast Michigan plus 4Warn Weather providing you . Posted on 21 novembre 2021; By; country music lifestyle (0) Comment. Justice was served today for little Amar," said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido. After lunch, the partially eaten cake was left on the counter. The Medical Assistant assists in the examination and treatment of patients under the direction of a physician. Suggest Listing The next court date is scheduled for May 9. Hayden brought the 7-month-old to the emergency room where a physician tried to save the baby's life. Because of that, the county recently instituted improved protocols for the chain of evidence, and the property room has been moved to the nearby Sheriffs Office, officials said. ", Later that day, the investigator went to the conference room and saw the cake was still on the counter, covered by a brown paper towel. 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. A fourth member of staff is currently under investigation, Macomb County's Director of Human Resources, Andrew. Key Information Hours Staff are available to take your calls Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 586-469-5214. The Macomb Daily reported that the four employees, a group comprised of a two morgue technicians, an investigator and the manager, were fired on Thursday following a July 18 complaint issued by another employee. 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. Jocelyn Fetting, 32, is accused of. Officials said they noticed 20 hydrocodone pain pills had gone missing, and there were 19 employees with access to the property room. People complained, she claims. "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? MACOMB COUNTY, MI Three female employees at the Macomb County morgue have been fired after accusations of sexism and racist, according to reports. The cake was taken into the conference area, which also served as the office lunch room, where it wasshared by morgue workers and supervisors. Vital Records Request Form Download the Macomb County Vital Records Request Form and Instructions (PDF) How do I use public transport? Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Berg agreed with Struckels attorney, Joel Sklar, in his opinion to deny dismissal of the free-speech claim that her complaints were made as a private citizen because as a morgue technician she had no management duties and her speech was of public concern. Her reporting of alleged violations was aimed at bringing to light public safety issues, potential wrongdoing and public trust, the lawsuit says. When the parents arrived, theyhad difficulty identifying the body, unsure that it was their son. The prosecutor sad Hayden had enough food and financial assistance to keep the baby fed and had received 16 cans of formula during A'Mar's life - including seven of them just three days before he died. In 2020, three Macomb County Morgue employees were fired after allegations of sexual harassment and racism. . 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. Recently, a distraught family appeared at the morgue and damaged some doors. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. The deal includes an opt-out with 90 days notice. But when she thought about the cake, her blood boiled. The Macomb County Medical Examiner's office confirmed Scott's identity, but could not confirm an official cause of death as a toxicology report is still pending. 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. The balloon was there for three days. She switched to thenight shift for awhile. "The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office does not investigate and does not try cases in the media. 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 violations. "Its despicable that a mother would starve her child to death. You may not use this site for the purposes of furnishing consumer reports about search subjects or for any use prohibited by the FCRA. non human bones, tissue, fetuses, etc.) 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. Mail to Macomb County Clerk, Attn: Death Records, 120 North Main, Mount Clemens, MI 48043. The 32-year-old woman stole drugs. (CBS DETROIT) - Two Macomb County workers are charged after stealing drugs from the medical examiner's office. The new language was instituted following a scandal at the same facilty in which three morgue employees were fired in July 2020 for sexist and potentially racist behavior. The Macomb Daily reported that the four employees, a group comprised of a two morgue technicians, an investigator and the manager, were fired on Thursday following a July 18 complaint issued by. Jacob Kettlewell, 50, is charged with larceny and use of a controlled substance. Perform death investigations that occur within Macomb County, prepares detailed reports and analysis on investigation of cases, identify deceased's . February 2, 2023 / 6:38 PM 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. 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. get driving directions from your location, Oakland County Medical Examiner & Coroner, St Clair County Medical Examiner & Coroner, Macomb County Clerk and Recorder's Office Death Records, Macomb County Clerk and Register of Deeds' Office Death Records, Macomb County Clerk's Office Genealogy Records, Macomb County Clerk's Office Marriage Applications, Macomb County Death Certificates & Records, Macomb County Marriage Certificates & Records. Shantavia Hayden was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of her 7-month-old after the baby was starved to death in 2020. 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. Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office Blood-soaked Idaho crime scene 'major challenge' for investigators, expert says, This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. A woman and a man who worked at the Macomb County Morgue have been charged for stealing drugs off of bodies, prosecutors said. Macomb County deputies were called at about 8 a.m. Sunday to the . In 2013, the county Board of Commissioners balked at renewing his contract after former employees accused Spitz of a tyrannical regime and forcing them out after he took over. Find Macomb County Death Records Macomb County Death Records are documents relating to an individual's death in Macomb County, Michigan. Three female morgue employees were fired Thursday following a due-processhearing, according to county officials. Its sad, Hackel said. 2023 County Office. One employee supposedly resold the drugs while the other kept them for personal use, they said. Three employees at the Macomb County Medical Examiner's office have been fired amid an investigation into claims of sexual harassment and racism. According to the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Officer, Robertson died from multiple blunt force injuries. Sticky notes with genitalia scrawled on them. Assistant prosecutors John Pietrofesa and Andrew McGarrow tried the case, calling . The complainant says she endured as much as she could until May of this year. The death investigator recalled one of the morgue workers telling her: "Show them a picture of his penis. See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for Macomb County Morgue locations in Adair, MI. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Hayden will spend 27.5 to 50 years in prison. Nobody wants to terminate employees. 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. His tenure has included additional controversies. Macomb, Oakland, Saginaw, Sanilac, St. Clair, Tuscola, Wayne 313-577-2890 business hours 313-577-1198 after hours/weekends In no case may a funeral director apply for SER for an unclaimed body. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. She was told by a county lawyer she was not a good fit and was an at-will employee, the lawsuit says. They're either "viciouslyharassed," she alleges, or bullied into resigning. The EEOC does not comment on investigations. 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. 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. 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 . They'll just say they were upset,' " states the complaint. I mean, as large as the sheriffs office is -- I have four people that have access to our property room. Kettlewell is charged with larceny, a 93-day misdemeanor, and use of a controlled substance, a one-year misdemeanor. Expect More from Local 4 News at 5. 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. The data and information provided herein is intended for the private non-commercial use of the general public. 2022 Midterm Elections. 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. Prior to filing a complaint, the investigator said, she tried to minimize her exposure to the harassment and hostility in the office. Hackel and Sheriff Anthony Wickersham did not reveal the type of drugs that the employees allegedly pilfered. The prosecutor also said Hayden had received $15,000 in jobless benefits in four months plus food stamps and cash assistance from the state. 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. Burial Services. Find 24 listings related to Macomb County Morgue in Adair on YP.com. Accidents in Macomb County are a major cause of property damage, injury, and death each year. 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. Job specializations: Administrative/Clerical. Throughout the investigation, the sheriff's office interviewed all 19 employees who had access to the property room, Wickersham said. 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. 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 data and information on this website is made available by the Office of the Macomb County Clerk/Register of Deeds as a convenience to the public. Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner (Clinton, MI - 19.5 miles) . Both Kettlewell and Fetting were arraigned Wednesday (Feb. 1) at 41B District Court. According to McKinnon, the current investigation does not involvechief Medical Examiner Dr. Daniel Spitz, who is a contract employee with the county. The office identifies bodies, notifies the next of kin, and returns personal belongings to the family. The employees made admissions to stealing other drugs from the chain of evidence process but were not responsible for the missing hydrocodone pills, officials said. The 50-year-old man and 32-year-old woman, both morgue technicians, were dismissed following a Sheriffs Office investigation into 20 missing hydrocodone pills that should have made it to the evidence room but did not. Maybe they'll recognize him by that.". Three female morgue employees were fired Thursday following a due-process hearing, according to county officials. Kettlewell is charged with larceny less than $200 and controlled substance use. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Find Death Records and Vital Records related to Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner. 43525 Elizabeth Road, Mount Clemens, MI 48043. 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 Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office ruled her mom's death an overdose due to multiple prescription drugs. A Roseville man who was fatally shot by police on April 26 after a crash in Roseville loved to fish, was a Green Bay Packers fan and was generous with his time and money, according to an online obituary.. Frank Robles, 57, was a Roseville resident for 46 years and a graduate of Brablec High School, according to the obituary on the Kaul Funeral Home website. Address, Phone Number, and Fax Number for Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner, a Coroner & Medical Examiner, at Elizabeth Street, Clinton MI. However, the doctor said that the child was already showing signs of rigor mortis and the baby had been dead for a few hours before he was brought into the hospital. Macomb Township Authorities are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found Sunday on a sidewalk, officials said. That employee was fired after filing her EEOC complaint, which is still pending. They also work with Macomb County police and sheriff's offices to investigate suspicious or violent deaths. Schiphol - Arriving and departing, Transfers, Layovers and Luggage storage. Penis screen savers. "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.". Clemens, Michigan 48043 Tel: (586) 469-5214 * Fax (586) 469-6636 To the Macomb County Executive and the Citizens of Macomb County: The Medical Examiner's duty is to investigate deaths which occur in the county to determine the cause and manner of death. 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. This is the second EEOC complaint to be filed against the Macomb County morgue in recent years. Morgue employees often take medicine found at a . The Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner, located in Clinton, MI, keeps death records for individuals who passed away in Clinton. Spitz took over the medical examiner role in the mid-2000s, following in the footsteps of his well-known father, Dr. Werner Spitz. Robinette Struckel, a former morgue technician in the county Medical Examiners Office, in November 2020 sued the county, a county official, a now-retired county official, and the medical examiner and his company on allegations of violation of her First Amendment right to free speech, the state Whistleblowers Protection Act and public policy. Wickersham compared that to his department, where only four people have access to the evidence room, and he is not one of them. 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.. Terms and Conditions. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2023 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Re: Covid Entry Requirements - Amsterdam. The employees, a 50-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, allegedly took some drugs instead of properly disposing of them, said Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham. Apr. This is the second time in three years the medical examiner's office has come under fire. An application for burial assistance must be made no later than 10 business days after the burial, cremation or donation takes place. Was she whining, overly sensitive? The next day, the cake was still there andthe complainant asked a supervisor if the cake was really decorated with a black penis. According to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, Jocelyn Fetting, 32, is. Secretary /Deputy Coroner. 2. A fourth employee remains on paid administrative leave as investigators. The assistant prosecutors trying the case argued to have her sentence be at the top of the guidelines and succeeded. 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,. 2023 www.freep.com. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, The Detroit Free Press reported. 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. 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. 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. Use of automated data search and programs is not supported by this . Abuse of prescription medications along with heroin and fentanyl/fentanyl-analogs continue to be major concerns in Macomb County. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports. The Medical Examiner's office also determines whether or not autopsies should be conducted. I dont even have access, nor want access, to the property room.. Spitz said after the press conference he wanted to make it clear that under the new contract, he has had no management control over the 16 county employees in the office; he only oversees himself and two other forensic pathologists. All rights reserved. County medical examiner. Information found on CountyOffice.org is strictly for informational purposes and does not construe legal, financial or medical advice. The investigator noted that she did questionherself before coming forward. Mt. Purpose. 2 Macomb County Medical Examiner Daniel J. Spitz, M.D. When the investigatorcalled 911 and a supervisor to report the incident, the supervisor "later called back and said, 'Are they black? A death investigator. They can break the doors and nothing will happen to them with everything going on, because they are black. Can you suggest a cheap hotel? If you would like to subscribe for text alerts please select Text Updates in the drop-down menu. Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner/Coroner's Office. 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. macomb county morgue death. I think you want to figure out how you manage these employees but, lets face it, at times, you do have folks who have issues.. In 2017, there were 110 deaths related to heroin Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. 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. The complainant was told the Free Press that she wanted to report the conduct sooner but feared retalitation from co-workers. Listed on 2023-03-02. Contact the Medical Examiner's office at (586) 469-5214 or email us now. Find 4 Coroners & Medical Examiners within 36.2 miles of Wayne County Medical Examiner & Coroner.