(Lander, WY) – The Fremont County Coroner’s Office gave both the monthly and mid-year commission reports at the July 13th, County Commissioners’ meeting.
Chief Deputy Coroner/Interim Coroner Erin Ivie first presented the reports, which stated that there have been 176 recorded deaths for Fremont County for the first half of 2021, 42% of which were Coroner cases.
There have been 74 cases so far in 2021, ahead of 67 in 2020. Of those cases, 21 were accidental deaths, 8 more than this time in 2020. There have also been 5 suicides, and 2 homicides this year.
The spike in accidental deaths is still mainly attributed to an increase in vehicular accidents, with 10 so far this year, compared to 2 for the same period in 2020.
Drug and alcohol use continues to to be a common factor in a majority of the incidents, with 7 out of the 10 vehicular accidents involving intoxicated individuals.
In total, drugs and alcohol account for 31% of all Coroner cases, and 51% of the non-natural deaths. This is up from 46% in 2020. Alcohol remains the number one drug in related deaths, with 15 this year, followed by methamphetamine at 6, and cannabis at 3. According to the report, there are 10 pending cases for the first half of 2021, which may change these numbers.
The Office also completed one unclaimed burial at the Wyoming Life Resource center (Fremont County Cemetery) in June. The cost was absorbed by the agencies involved, including hourly pay and fuel. This is only the second unclaimed burial since the agreement with the state in 2019.