2026 Kentucky General Election

Cassie ROBINSON

Facebook

Buket Urgen

The Role of the Coroner with Jessamine County Kentucky Coroner ...

Cassie Robinson:

Suspected overdoses, when we get suspected overdoses, and not even suspected overdoses, even suicides, a car accident that isn’t going to go to autopsy, maybe a passenger, when we get to the office we draw tox ourselves. And then we send it off to our lab, that is a lab that the entire state uses.

The Role of the Coroner with Jessamine County Kentucky Coroner Michael Hughes - (Murder Police Podcast)

Wendy Lyons:

So do you all interview the families as well to get information?

Cassie Robinson:

Yeah.

Wendy Lyons:

So it’s you all and it’s law enforcement?

Cassie Robinson:

Yeah. And it truly is like a puzzle, because on certain cases that aren’t obvious and it’s somebody that’s not 30 years old, just a middle-aged person, interviewing the family is huge. Medical records, we’ll talk to their doctors, see what’s going on. A lot of times their primary care physician will have a diagnosis that we had no idea about, family had no idea about, that answers all the questions.

Cassie Robinson:

Yeah. And it truly is like a puzzle, because on certain cases that aren’t obvious and it’s somebody that’s not 30 years old, just a middle-aged person, interviewing the family is huge. Medical records, we’ll talk to their doctors, see what’s going on. A lot of times their primary care physician will have a diagnosis that we had no idea about, family had no idea about, that answers all the questions.
If we can’t come up with a definite answer, either the medical examiner will want them to come to autopsy or we’ll consult with the medical examiner that’ll clarify some things that they think, or we’ll test theories with the medical examiner and they’ll give us advice. They’re really approachable and easy to talk to about questions, if we have any.

Collects toxicology samples in suspected overdoses, suicides, and certain vehicle-related deaths without autopsies, then sends them to a statewide laboratory.

Investigates deaths with no obvious cause by interviewing families and reviewing medical records with physicians.

Consults medical examiners and seeks autopsies when an investigation cannot determine a definite cause of death.

- Collects toxicology samples in suspected overdoses, suicides, and certain vehicle-related deaths without autopsies, then sends them to a statewide laboratory.
- Investigates deaths with no obvious cause by interviewing families and reviewing medical records with physicians.
- Consults medical examiners and seeks autopsies when an investigation cannot determine a definite cause of death.

Public Safety

Provides support and practical assistance to bereaved families until they no longer need that support.

Public Health

- The coroner investigates certain types of deaths and attempts to determine their cause. To determine the cause of death, the coroner can order an autopsy, seize evidence, and interrogate people.
- The coroner can present evidence to a coroner’s jury. If that jury returns a verdict of manslaughter, murder, or other criminal act, then the coroner must make an arrest or notify law enforcement.
- The coroner has discretion about investigating deaths from natural causes.
- The minimum possible salary is determined based on county population and a coroner’s continuing education. The minimum monthly pay ranges from $200 to $1,300. The current maximum annual salary allowed is about $93,000.
- A coroner must possess a current certificate of continuing education in order to perform a postmortem examination but otherwise has no educational requirements for the job.

The chief medical examiner for the county.

Jessamine Coroner

Candidates (1)