Archuleta County Coroner Brad Hunt gave an update to the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) on Tuesday, Oct. 8, providing information on the cases his office has dealt with so far this year.
Hunt explained that he originally set up the meeting with the BoCC to inform them that his office is looking into options for burying unclaimed persons who pass away in Archuleta County.
Hunt mentioned that he had been in contact with representatives of the town’s cemetery and the initial impression was that the Pagosa Springs Town Council would have to approve of lots being donated. However, Hunt explained that he was informed that the cemetery is able to donate lots without needing approval from the town council.
“They have plenty of spaces,” Hunt said, explaining that the plots being donated are between family plots and “they don’t suspect anybody’s gonna want to purchase from them.”
He mentioned the cemetery is willing to allow two cremation burials per plot, “Which is good.”
Hunt noted that the only drawback will be getting plaques for the graves which will run about $200 each, he indicated.
Hunt explained that between his office, the Department of Human Services and the town, that they can “try to lower that cost to get that done.”
He noted that burials would not occur until the spring of 2025.
Commissioner Veronica Medina asked how many unclaimed persons the coroner’s office has had so far this year, with Hunt indicating they have dealt with three so far.
There were no cases of unclaimed persons passing away in Archuleta County in 2023, Hunt explained.
Hunt also provided more information in regard to the amount and types of cases his office has dealt with so far this year.
“Right now, we got 51 persons that we’ve taken care of — cases,” he said, noting that his office dealt with a total of 54 cases in 2023.
Hunt also mentioned that his office has had 23 autopsies performed so far this year, compared to a total of 17 in 2023.
“We’re already up to 23 this year,” he said.
Hunt explained he believes that there has only been one drug overdose death, which he noted to be “quite recent.”
“We have had six suicides, which is devastating,” Hunt said, explaining there were five deaths by suicide in the county in 2023.
“So, we are up a little bit this year,” he added, mentioning that hopefully there aren’t any more.
Commissioner Ronnie Maez expressed concern about the workload the coroner’s office is dealing with.
“It’s progressively increasing, all the numbers are, every year, and it’s increasing quite a bit,” Maez said. “I’m more concerned about the overall workload.”
Hunt commented that the workload is more than he anticipated when he first started in May 2023.
“It’s different than what I thought it was going to be,” he said. “It does take more time.”
Hunt explained that he spent about six to eight hours with each unclaimed person case, attempting to contact and convince family members to take care of the situation.
Commissioner Warren Brown asked what the average cost of each autopsy is, to which Hunt explained that Archuleta County uses La Plata County’s facility to perform autopsies, and that each one cost $1,500, plus a $100 fee charged by La Plata County, “and that is so cheap.”
“Very gracious,” Brown commented.
Hunt explained that La Plata County has not increased its fee for using its facility over the past 10 years.
He noted that the price for the autopsy increased from $1,300 to $1,500 this year, and that La Plata County was already being charged $1,500.
Hunt mentioned that, unfortunately, Archuleta County has been giving them a lot of business, due to cases that legally required an autopsy or where the cause of death is unexplainable.
“We’ve had a lot of cases that are just, either required by the state, or there is just no reason,” he said, mentioning the case of a “healthy” 84-year-old man who passed away who had no existing health conditions.
Brown indicated that with the county having 23 autopsies performed so far this year, that equates to $34,500, not including the facility fee.
Hunt noted that the facility fees equate to an additional $2,300.
Hunt also explained that blood and urine toxicology tests cost $156 each, but that the state will reimburse for toxicology tests.
“Expensive,” Medina commented.
“It does get expensive,” Hunt said.
He explained that he requested an additional $15,000 in last year’s budget so that his department would not end up over spending.
Hunt noted that those additional funds were used up in January with the department handling 10 cases, eight of which required autopsies.
Hunt also explained that he is applying for a suicide prevention grant for $1,500 to $2,500 from the state.
In order to approved for the grant, he is required to submit a nine-page suicide questionnaire, he explained.
Hunt mentioned that requires talking to families in order to obtain the necessary information, and that the families have been gracious in speaking with him, “so that we can try to collect this information to help prevent suicides. And that’s what the program’s about.”
Hunt noted that he has not had to deal with any child suicide cases in the county.
In a later interview, Hunt indicated that from 2013 to 2019 the coroner’s office had anywhere from 30 to 39 cases per year.
In 2020, the coroner’s office had 44 cases, in 2021 it had 47 cases and in 2022 it dealt with 50 total cases.
clayton@pagosasun.com
