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.. Blood-soaked Idaho crime scene 'major challenge' for investigators, expert says, This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The county sheriff's office conducted a . 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. Posted: April 16, 2021. That really pushed me over the edge.". 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 investigator noted that she did questionherself before coming forward. This was not onlyignored by managing personnel, but participated in by the supervising staff.". "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? Hackel and Wickersham declined to provide the specific kind of drug, the amount that was taken or when it happened. 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. Listed on 2023-03-02. That employee was fired after filing her EEOC complaint, which is still pending. (586) 469-5214. 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. She was told by a county lawyer she was not a good fit and was an at-will employee, the lawsuit says. The offensive cake was served one day after George Floyd died while in police custody, the Detroit Free Press reported. Struckel initially complained to Spitz and then to Ridella and McKinnon. Find Death Records and Vital Records related to Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner. The crude confection lingered in a lunchroom at the Macomb County Medical Examiner's . Officials said they noticed 20 hydrocodone pain pills had gone missing, and there were 19 employees with access to the property room. Admin Assistant, Clerical. 1 weather alerts 1 closings . You may not use this site for the purposes of furnishing consumer reports about search subjects or for any use prohibited by the FCRA. 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. The Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office ruled her mom's death an overdose due to multiple prescription drugs. The Medical Examiner's office also determines whether or not autopsies should be conducted. 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. They were fired. Was she whining, overly sensitive? 2023 www.freep.com. 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. Investigators said the chain of drug custody caught their eye, and some workers were concerned about people pocketing some of the drugs. 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. The Medical Assistant interviews patients, measures vital signs (i.e., pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure, weight and height), and records information on patients' charts. Assistant prosecutors John Pietrofesa and Andrew McGarrow tried the case, calling . Find 13 external resources related to Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner. 5MOUNT CLEMENS A former investigator with the Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office is suing the directors of multiple county agencies, claiming they allowed a work environment that . 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. First published on February 2, 2023 / 6:38 PM. When we hearthese types of allegations, we take them seriously and we take quick action.". Another one alleging similar claims was filed in 2016 and is still pending. Both employees were fired in December. The investigator responded no, then asked if she herself had frosted the cake with a black penis. 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. Patch has reached out to Macomb County officials for additional information. ", More:Mitch Albom: Burying the unclaimed dead shows the greatest respect for life. HURON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (FOX 2) - Police say an employee working for the Wayne County Morgue used his position to stake out potential victims and even had a cover story in the event he got. 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. Information found on CountyOffice.org is strictly for informational purposes and does not construe legal, financial or medical advice. After lunch, the partially eaten cake was left on the counter. The 32-year-old woman stole drugs. "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? Clemens, MI 48043 A fourth employee remains on paid administrativeleave as investigators continue to questionformer employees about allegations involving racist and sexist behavior in the office. The Medical Examiner's office also determines whether or not autopsies should be conducted. During the trial, Medical Examiner Leigh Hlavaty testified that AMar had not been fed for at least seven days. An application for burial assistance must be made no later than 10 business days after the burial, cremation or donation takes place. 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. Address, Phone Number, and Fax Number for Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner, a Coroner & Medical Examiner, at Elizabeth Street, Clinton MI. When the descendant's estate, mandatory copayments, etc., are not sufficient, burial payment assistance may be available to pay for: Costs associated with donation of a body to a medical school. He or she then prepares a written autopsy report. 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. According to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, Jocelyn Fetting, 32, is. 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. The Medical Examiner's office investigates deaths due to violence, accidents and those not attended by a physician. Jocelyn Fetting, 32, is accused of. Schiphol - Arriving and departing, Transfers, Layovers and Luggage storage. Drug-related deaths have been a significant problem over the past several years and hit an all-time high in 2017 (380 deaths). The Medical Examiner's office will be closed on the following days: Medical Examiner - Frequently Asked Questions. The prosecutor also said Hayden had received $15,000 in jobless benefits in four months plus food stamps and cash assistance from the state. Jocelyn Fetting, 32, is accused of taking drugs from the medical examiners office with intent to sell them, officials said. The investigation identified two morgue employees who were "pocketing drugs" from dead bodies, Click on Detroit reported. Macomb County Medical Examiner Daniel J. Spitz, M.D. Perform death investigations that occur within Macomb County, prepares detailed reports and analysis on investigation of cases, identify deceased's . View map of Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner, and get driving directions from your location. 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. A fourth member of staff is currently under investigation, Macomb County's Director of Human Resources, Andrew. 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. Prior to filing a complaint, the investigator said, she tried to minimize her exposure to the harassment and hostility in the office. 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 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. Clinton Twp. 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. 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. 57, died of multiple gunshot wounds, and the manner of death was homicide. Thats not a good policy to have with an evidence room, Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said. Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said the medical examiners office had drugs so it could compare it to medication found in toxicology reports. 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. 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. The next court date is scheduled for May 9. Accidents in Macomb County are a major cause of property damage, injury, and death each year. County Office is not affiliated with any government agency. A pathologist who studies the cause and effects of disease and injury, then gathers specimens of the organs and body fluids for testing. She switched to thenight shift for awhile. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports. Terms and Conditions. Fetting and Kettlewell were bothfired from the medical examiner's office. "The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office does not investigate and does not try cases in the media. 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. A man working for a company contracted by the Wayne County morgue is accused of breaking into a home of a deceased person he reportedly helped transport the day prior. 2 Macomb County Medical Examiner Daniel J. Spitz, M.D. MACOMB. Staff are available to take your calls Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at (586) 469-5214. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, The Detroit Free Press reported. 3 The Macomb County Morgue Credit: Macomb County They both received $5,000 personal bonds and will be back in court in May. Posted on 21 novembre 2021; By; country music lifestyle (0) Comment. 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. I do not manage (county) employees, I do not hire, I do not fire, I do not discipline employees, Spitz said. Justice was served today for little Amar," said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido. 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. The death investigator says multiple people have complained about the "unprofessional decorum" in the past, but to no avail. 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. 2022 Midterm Elections. Expect More from Local 4 News at 5. 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. According to McKinnon, the current investigation does not involvechief Medical Examiner Dr. Daniel Spitz, who is a contract employee with the county. CountyOffice.org does not provide consumer reports and is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Macomb County deputies were called at about 8 a.m. Sunday to the . The prior contract was for $1.7 million. 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. They also work with Macomb County police and sheriff's offices to investigate suspicious or violent deaths. Kaiyanni Jones, who was 1 year and 11 . County medical examiner. Popularity:#7 of 83 Coroners & Medical Examiners in Michigan#158 in Coroners & Medical Examiners. Mail to Macomb County Clerk, Attn: Death Records, 120 North Main, Mount Clemens, MI 48043. The facility was expanded in 2021. . The Medical Examiner's office also determines whether or not autopsies should be conducted. Contact the Medical Examiner's office at (586) 469-5214 or email us now. The investigation has been going on for a "few months.". Contract position. 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. 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. Two former Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office employees are facing charges in connection with the theft of prescription medications from storage. 43585 Elizabeth Rd 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.. The board ultimately approved new contracts that year and in 2017. The EEOC does not comment on investigations. Secretary /Deputy Coroner. "The office culture is tainted with racism toward people of color. 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. Forensic Examinations 572 Local deaths (those that occur within the boundaries of Macomb County) that fall under the jurisdiction of 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. The next day, the person who made the cake approached the investigator, asking, "Did you try my cake?". Two Macomb County employees were fired after allegedly stealing drugs from the medical examiner's office, county officials announced at a news conference Friday. 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. The officials made and/or influenced the unlawful decision to terminate Plaintiff because of her protected activity under the Free Speech Clause. 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. 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. 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. Hayden will spend 27.5 to 50 years in prison. The following death benefits are deducted from the SER payment: "I was livid furious actually," the woman told the Free Press. Macomb, MI. She noted the masks provide protection against the spread of COVID-19 and other pathogens. They were given a $5,000 personal bond. A cake decorated with a black penis has sparked grave allegations of workplace racism at a Michigan morgue. Job specializations: Administrative/Clerical. The death investigator tells a different story. There was one gunshot wound to the head entering on the right cheek . "Were supposed to set an example. Mt. Please contact the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office at 313-833-2504 to find out how to obtain a copy of the autopsy report. That employeea death investigator and person of color said she long wanted to report the offensive behavior, but feared retaliation so she stayed quiet. 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. Hackel and Sheriff Anthony Wickersham did not reveal the type of drugs that the employees allegedly pilfered. The Coroner and Medical Examiner determines a deceased person's time and cause of death, often in the case of sudden or unexpected 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. Kettlewell is charged with larceny, a 93-day misdemeanor, and use of a controlled substance, a one-year misdemeanor. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. article. The individual defendants knew Struckel was engaging in free speech because she told each her suspicions and the imminent dangers of disease posed to those who visited the morgue, employees, their families and community, the complaint states. For the second time in three years, employees have been fired from the Macomb County morgue for wrongful behavior. If you would like to subscribe for text alerts please select Text Updates in the drop-down menu. DETROIT (FOX 2) - Keith Appling was sentenced to 18-40 years in prison following his guilty plea for a fatal shooting in 2021. They learned the entire staff had access to the evidence room, which Hackel and Wickersham said is highly improper. Phone: (323) 343-0512. "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.".