(Fremont County, WY) – Fremont County Coroner Mark Stratmoen recently released an end of year summary and comparison for 2020.
A total of 416 deaths were recorded in Fremont County for 2020, 80 more than in 2019 (336). Of those cases, 172 were Coroner cases (21 more than 2019).
59 of the Coroner cases happened in the 4th quarter of 2020 (October through December), the highest number for any quarter in the past 7 years, and 26 more cases than the 4th quarter of 2019.
64 of the Coroner cases were “non-natural” in manner which includes: accident, homicide, suicide, and undetermined. There were also 64 “non-natural” deaths in 2019 as well.
- 39 accidents – same as 2019 – motor vehicle (16), falls (9), drug and/or alcohol toxicity (6), drowning (3), hypothermia (3), asphyxia (1), and exsanguination (1).
- 20 suicides – 3 more than 2019
- 5 homicides – 2 less than 2019
Stratmoen also included information on national averages for our population according to the most recent statistics available from the CDC-National Vital Statistics System (2017).
The number of accidental deaths (39) for 2020 is about twice the national average for our population, according to the Coroner’s report.
The number of suicides (20) is over three times the national average for our population, and are at the highest number going back 40 years.
Homicides (5) are twice the national average for our population.
Drug and/or alcohol related deaths account for 58 of the 172 Coroner cases. Some cases involve more than one substance relating to drugs and/or alcohol. Below is the 2020 breakdown:
- Alcohol – 43
- Methamphetamine – 9
- Opiates – 5
- Cannabis – 3 (14 in 2019)
31 of the 64 non-natural deaths were drug and/or alcohol related.
Drugs and/or alcohol was a contributing factor in 19 of the 39 accidental deaths for 2020.
8 of the sixteen motor vehicle deaths involved alcohol and/or drugs and is about three times the national average for our population.
Six Coroner cases were directly related to COVID-19 complications, and all occurred since late October, according to the Coroner report. All other reported COVID deaths for Fremont County occurred in medical facilities or were attended deaths and not Coroner cases.
The Fremont County Coroner’s Office is currently an estimated 2% under budget averages for this time of year. They also reported there were no unclaimed remains burials in 2020.