Gregory (Greg) P. Rohanna, Coroner Ben Franklin Building, 2nd Floor
22 West High Street, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania 15370
Phone: 724-883-4477 /Fax: 724-883-4949
OFFICE OVERVIEW:
The mission of the Coroner's Office is to determine cause & manner of death; identify the deceased; notify family & proper disposition of deceased's property; investigate all circumstances surrounding unnatural death.
The Coroner is also responsible for investigating deaths of a suspicious or violent nature. When inquests are warranted, the Coroner is empowered to perform autopsies, subpoena witnesses, administer oaths and issue certificates of death where death occurs without medical attention or attendance.
The Coroner can utilize any and all medicolegal investigative techniques, including an autopsy, to establish both the medical cause of death, and mode or manner of death (natural, accident, homicide, suicide, or undetermined).
INVESTIGATIONS:
Sudden deaths not caused by readily recognizable disease or where the cause of death cannot be properly certified by a physician on the basis of prior or recent medical attendance
Deaths occurring under suspicious circumstances, including alcohol, drugs or other toxic substances which may have had a direct bearing on the outcome
Deaths occurring as a result of violence or trauma, whether apparently homicidal, suicidal or accidental (including mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical or radiation injury, drowning, or industrial accidents)
Deaths in which trauma, chemical injury, drug overdose or reaction to drugs or medical treatment was a primary or secondary, direct or indirect, contributory, aggravating or precipitating cause of death
Operative and perioperative deaths in which the death is not readily explainable on the basis of prior diseases
Deaths wherein the body is unidentified or unclaimed
Deaths known or suspected to be caused due to contagious disease and which constitute a public hazard
Deaths occurring in prison, a penal institution, or while in the custody of the police
Deaths of persons whose bodies are to be cremated, buried at sea or otherwise disposed of
Sudden infant death syndrome and stillbirths
The purpose of the investigation shall be to determine the cause of any such death and to determine whether or not there is sufficient reason for the Coroner to believe that any such death may have resulted from criminal acts or criminal neglect of persons other than the deceased. As part of the investigation, the Coroner will also determine the identity of the deceased and notify the next of kin.
WHEN SOMEONE DIES:
When a person dies suddenly or unexpectedly, your first responsibility is to Call 9-1-1 for medical assistance and guidance. If possible, have the following information available:
William Lewis, Jr., Chief Deputy Coroner (part-time)
For general information, please contact the Information Services at 724-852-5399 / Toll Free: 1-888-852-5399. County Office Building, 93 E. High Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
