Garnt County Coroner

Introduction To Grant County
& The Coroner's Office

Grant County was organized in 1909 and was formerly part of Douglas County. It was named after President Ulysses S. Grant. It is located in the east central part of the state and is bounded on the west by the Grand Coulee and the Columbia River. In the late nineteenth century, the county was traversed by railroads: the Great Northern; the Northern Pacific; and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul. The railroads brought settlers into the county, attracted by its rich soil and agricultural potential. The Columbia Basin Irrigation Project of the 1930s also made a significant impact on the county while the completion of the Grand Coulee Dam (the largest all concrete structure on earth) opened lands for farming and furnished electric power for industry. Today the county is a major wheat, potatoes, bean and pea producer and food processing center.

Adams Asotin Benton Chelan Clallam Clark Columbia Cowlitz Douglas Ferry Franklin Garfield Grant Grays Harbor Island Jefferson King Kitsap Kittitas Klickitat Lewis Lincoln Mason Okanogan Pacific Pend Oreille Pierce San Juan Skagit Skamania Snohomish Spokane Stevens Thurston Wahkiakum Walla Walla Whatcom Whitman Yakima

Grant

Geography & Population
The area of Grant County is comprised of 2,675 square miles in the Central Washington Basin area. The courthouse is in Ephrata, the county’s second largest city. There are fifteen incorporated cities and towns, of which nine have separate police departments. Additionally, there is the Grant County sheriff’s office. The state patrol has jurisdiction over the interstate and state routes. Big Bend College and the Port of Moses Lake both have security forces.

The latest population estimate, according to the Office of Fiscal Management, is 75,900.

Introduction
The Grant County Coroner is an elected official who, under the laws of the State of Washington and Grant County, determines the manner and cause of death of those individuals falling under their jurisdiction. These deaths include those, which are sudden, unexpected, violent, or suspicious. The process involves the gathering of information from several sources: observations made at the scene of death; interviews with relatives, friends, health care professionals, law enforcement personnel, witnesses, et al., about the circumstances surrounding the death; and examination of the body externally and internally, including microscopic and toxicological examination. With this information, the Coroner can accurately certify the manner and cause of death.

The Coroner’s Office is very sensitive to the tragedy of sudden and unexpected death, recognizing that each death represents the loss of an individual deeply missed by loved ones and friends. A complete and thorough investigation provides answers to immediate questions, as well as those, which may arise later. The investigation may also expedite insurance claims, social security benefits, and estate settlements.

The investigation of violent deaths provided information and evidence for criminal and civil legal proceedings. The criminal justice system is thus provided with an independent and unbiased opinion.

Work-related deaths are investigated concurrently with the Department of Labor and Industries, with the intent to identify and correct any existing hazardous working conditions. Survivors are provided information on which benefits and fair compensation can be based.

The Coroner’s office plays a role in public health by identifying deaths caused by infectious diseases, poisons, and exposure to hazardous and toxic chemicals. Various agencies, including the Food & Drug Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local law enforcement, may also investigate suspicious poisoning deaths. Unsafe products that have caused deaths are identified and reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.