Prosecutors say Fetting allegedly took drugs from the medical examiner's office with the internet to sell, while Kettlewell took an occasional pill to consume. The offensive cake was. Macomb County deputies were called at about 8 a.m. Sunday to the . The next court date is scheduled for May 9. Macomb County officials on Thursday will consider settling a federal lawsuit filed over two years ago by a former morgue employee who claims she was fired for reporting health and safety. In a 2010 autopsy as part of a high-profile investigation, Spitz missed a bullet that was found by another pathologist in the base of the skull of banker David Widlak, whose body was found along the Lake St. Clair shore in Harrison Township. FOX 2 Detroit. / CBS Detroit. 1 weather alerts 1 closings . A man working for a company contracted by the Wayne County morgue is accused of breaking into a home of a deceased person he reportedly helped transport the day prior. The complainant says she endured as much as she could until May of this year. . In 2018, the most recent year for which data are available, the Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office investigated 3,061 deaths, performed 531 complete autopsies, 121 external examinations. One likely took the drugs and another likely attempted to sell them, the officials said. According to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, Jocelyn Fetting, 32, is charged with conspiracy with intent to deliver, delivery of suboxone, delivery of Adderall and larceny of a building. People complained, she claims. When the investigatorcalled 911 and a supervisor to report the incident, the supervisor "later called back and said, 'Are they black? Macomb County Population 840,978 Number of Deaths in Macomb County 6,561 Macomb County Medical Examiners Cases 1,930 (Includes 15 unspecified cases incl. 57, died of multiple gunshot wounds, and the manner of death was homicide. County Office is not affiliated with any government agency. This is the second EEOC complaint to be filed against the Macomb County morgue in recent years. The Macomb County Health Department operates the Medical Examiner's (ME) office, which is charged with investigating deaths due to violence, accidents and those not attended by a physician. Mail to Macomb County Clerk, Attn: Death Records, 120 North Main, Mount Clemens, MI 48043. ", Later that day, the investigator went to the conference room and saw the cake was still on the counter, covered by a brown paper towel. A fourth employee remains on paid administrativeleave as investigators continue to questionformer employees about allegations involving racist and sexist behavior in the office. "She began to laugh and stated, 'Yes, I did,' " the complaint states. Jocelyn Fetting, 32, is accused of taking drugs from the medical examiners office with intent to sell them, officials said. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WXMI) The Kent County Medical Examiner ruled a 1-year-old's death a homicide, the Grand Rapids Police Department said Tuesday. Kaiyanni Jones, who was 1 year and 11 . 5MOUNT CLEMENS A former investigator with the Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office is suing the directors of multiple county agencies, claiming they allowed a work environment that . According to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, Jocelyn Fetting, 32, is. Schiphol - Arriving and departing, Transfers, Layovers and Luggage storage. They did note a separate incident where 20 hydrocodone pills went missing from the evidence room, but said they do not know who took them. The Free Press did not identify the individual, but described her as a death investigator who worked at the morgue as well as a person of color. The next day, the person who made the cake approached the investigator, asking, "Did you try my cake?". "I have witnessed prior employees resign due to constant bullying and ridicule for 'not being onboard'with the office culture," the new complaint states. "I find this conduct and these statements offensive and appalling," states the complaint, which also alleges numerous sexual harassment incidents. Recently, a distraught family appeared at the morgue and damaged some doors. MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. A woman and a man who worked at the Macomb County Morgue have been charged for stealing drugs off of bodies, prosecutors said. Posted: April 16, 2021. Contact Emma Stein: estein@freepress.com and follow her on Twitter @_emmastein. The Medical Assistant interviews patients, measures vital signs (i.e., pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure, weight and height), and records information on patients' charts. The Macomb County morgue is buriedin scandalinvolving allegationsof all sorts: Employeesmocked Blacks inquiring about loved ones' deaths, hung pornographyin the office, bullied women who complained and recently brought in a birthdaycake frosted with male genitalia artfor fun, according to a formal complaint. macomb county morgue death. article. The Medical Examiner's office also determines whether or not autopsies should be conducted. Expect More from Local 4 News at 5. "No, I did not have any of it. In 2013, the county Board of Commissioners balked at renewing his contract after former employees accused Spitz of a tyrannical regime and forcing them out after he took over. Spitz said prior contract language was vague as to his role in the office and that he was the who proposed the new language that was accepted by the county administration. Find Death Records and Vital Records related to Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner. Two Macomb County morgue employees fired for, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Two Macomb County morgue employees fired for stealing drugs, Not again. Listing for: County of McHenry. Fraser City Clerk 33000 Garfield Road Fraser, MI 48026 586-293-1877 Directions. The investigation identified two morgue employees who were "pocketing drugs" from dead bodies, Click on Detroit reported. The data and information provided herein is intended for the private non-commercial use of the general public. And to prevent this from happening again, the sheriff's office will take custody of medical inventory going forward because they have a better inventory process. Clemens, Michigan 48043 Tel: (586) 469-5214 * Fax (586) 469-6636 _____ To the Macomb County Executive and the Citizens of Macomb County: The Medical Examiner's duty is to investigate deaths which occur in the county to determine the cause and manner of death. At a Friday morning news conference held at the offices of the Communications and Technology Center and Roads Department in Mount Clemens, Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel announced two. Berg agreed with Struckels attorney, Joel Sklar, in his opinion to deny dismissal of the free-speech claim that her complaints were made as a private citizen because as a morgue technician she had no management duties and her speech was of public concern. Her reporting of alleged violations was aimed at bringing to light public safety issues, potential wrongdoing and public trust, the lawsuit says. The employees, a 50-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, allegedly took some drugs instead of properly disposing of them, said Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham. The 32-year-old woman stole drugs. I think you want to figure out how you manage these employees but, lets face it, at times, you do have folks who have issues.. get driving directions from your location, Oakland County Medical Examiner & Coroner, St Clair County Medical Examiner & Coroner, Macomb County Clerk and Recorder's Office Death Records, Macomb County Clerk and Register of Deeds' Office Death Records, Macomb County Clerk's Office Genealogy Records, Macomb County Clerk's Office Marriage Applications, Macomb County Death Certificates & Records, Macomb County Marriage Certificates & Records. The death investigator tells a different story. What is there to see and do? Macomb, Oakland, Saginaw, Sanilac, St. Clair, Tuscola, Wayne 313-577-2890 business hours 313-577-1198 after hours/weekends In no case may a funeral director apply for SER for an unclaimed body. The new contract includes an opt-out with a 90-day notice, Hackel said, and it gives the county more control over contracted work. The Macomb Daily reported that the four employees, a group comprised of a two morgue technicians, an investigator and the manager, were fired on Thursday following a July 18 complaint issued by. The Medical Examiner's office will be closed on the following days: Medical Examiner - Frequently Asked Questions. Read more Health - Medical Examiner Fees His tenure has included additional controversies. Person who has been designated as the funeral . In 2007, the county opened a new state-of-the-art morgue at a cost of $2.4 million in the county complex near Groesbeck Highway and Elizabeth Road. "We dont want anyone working in a place thats unwelcoming, unsafe and not inclusive," said Macomb County Human Resources Director Andrew McKinnon. She switched to thenight shift for awhile. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office does not investigate and does not try cases in the media. Information found on CountyOffice.org is strictly for informational purposes and does not construe legal, financial or medical advice. "'That cake is disgusting," she said she told her. In 2020, three Macomb County Morgue employees were fired after allegations of sexual harassment and racism. Sticky notes with genitalia scrawled on them. Posted on 21 novembre 2021; By; country music lifestyle (0) Comment. Apr. Justice was served today for little Amar," said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido. Staff are available to take your calls Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at (586) 469-5214. Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said the medical examiners office had drugs so it could compare it to medication found in toxicology reports. "I have witnessed co-workers crying at their desks, crying in the parking lot, and crying in the bathroom of the building," her complaint states. Use of automated data search and programs is not supported by this . But, maybe also check first with the place where she would be cremated, make sure they will take her after a couple days Back in 2017 we debunked a story that a Texas . "All these cities are on fire for the Black Lives Matter movement, and here's my staff eating a black penis cake as a joke? They're either "viciouslyharassed," she alleges, or bullied into resigning. Both Kettlewell and Fetting were arraigned Wednesday (Feb. 1) at 41B District Court. During the cake incident, multiple employees complained, but nothing happened, the complaint alleges. Key Information Hours Staff are available to take your calls Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 586-469-5214. Jocelyn Fetting, 32, of Chesterfield, and Jacob Kettlewell, 50, of Oxford, are accused of stealing 1,200 pills from the property room at the office. She noted the masks provide protection against the spread of COVID-19 and other pathogens. Drug-related deaths have been a significant problem over the past several years and hit an all-time high in 2017 (380 deaths). ", More:Mitch Albom: Burying the unclaimed dead shows the greatest respect for life. The Medical Examiner's office also determines whether or not autopsies should be conducted. An anonymous tip received in April 2022 led the sheriff's office to investigate Fetting and Kettlewell. That is not funny.". In 2020, three employees were fired after alleged sexist and racist behavior, including a penis cake that showed up at the office the day after George Floyd's death. Another one alleging similar claims was filed in 2016 and is still pending. Officials said they noticed 20 hydrocodone pain pills had gone missing, and there were 19 employees with access to the property room. However, the doctor said that the child was already showing signs of rigor mortis and the baby had been dead for a few hours before he was brought into the hospital. Third party advertisements support hosting, listing verification, updates, and site maintenance. December 9, 2022 Two Macomb County employees were fired after allegedly stealing drugs from the medical examiner's office, county officials announced at a news conference Friday. Hayden brought the 7-month-old to the emergency room where a physician tried to save the baby's life. Jacob Kettlewell, 50, is accused of taking an occasional pill from the medical examiners office and consuming it, according to authorities. "Were supposed to set an example. CountyOffice.org does not provide consumer reports and is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Two former employees of the Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office were charged Wednesday with several crimes relating to stolen prescription medication from the morgue. Kettlewell is charged with larceny, a 93-day misdemeanor, and use of a controlled substance, a one-year misdemeanor. The Coroner and Medical Examiner determines a deceased person's time and cause of death, often in the case of sudden or unexpected deaths. Job in Woodstock - McHenry County - IL Illinois - USA , 60098. Officers caught up with Carnell Franklin-Smith, 34, and Benjamin Pearce, 29, who had been at the house the day before to transport James Davis' body to the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office. Listed on 2023-03-02. The 50-year-old man and 32-year-old woman, both morgue technicians, were dismissed following a Sheriffs Office investigation into 20 missing hydrocodone pills that should have made it to the evidence room but did not. Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office . Three female morgue workers were fired as part of the investigation last week. When those families show up at the morgue, she says, "I havebeen told, 'Go deal with your people,' ". MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. - A woman and a man who worked at the Macomb County Morgue have been charged for stealing drugs off of bodies, prosecutors said. All rights reserved. The death of Floyd, a Black man who died while in the custody of Minneapolis police and with an officer's knee on his neck, has sparked protests against police brutality around the nation. It was also alleged Black families of deceased individuals were treated differently by morgue employees, and employees who complained were bullied. Burial Services. Hackel said they do not believe the employees were working together, but were aware of what the other was doing. "So what we decided to do was come up with more stringent protocols in place for us to have oversight to give us access to understanding more of what was being done over there, (this evidence room) was one of those areas that kind of came out as being problematic.". Jocelyn Fetting, 32, is accused of. Before she was fired, Spitz told her she was over-qualified for the position, she says. The ex-morgue technicians were . A death investigator at the Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office filed a July 18 complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regarding the explicit cake an off-duty staffer . Spitz said after the press conference he wanted to make it clear that under the new contract, he has had no management control over the 16 county employees in the office; he only oversees himself and two other forensic pathologists. I do not manage (county) employees, I do not hire, I do not fire, I do not discipline employees, Spitz said. MACOMB. The investigation has been going on for a "few months.". Robinette Struckel, a former morgue technician in the county Medical Examiners Office, in November 2020 sued the county, a county official, a now-retired county official, and the medical examiner and his company on allegations of violation of her First Amendment right to free speech, the state Whistleblowers Protection Act and public policy. The Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner, located in Clinton, MI, keeps death records for individuals who passed away in Clinton. Accidents in Macomb County are a major cause of property damage, injury, and death each year. "Are they a black family?" Clemens, MI 48043 Hours and Location I prepared the contract and submitted it to the county, he said. Struckel initially complained to Spitz and then to Ridella and McKinnon. The first three charges are each seven-year felonies, and the larceny charge is a four-year felony. If you would like to subscribe for text alerts please select Text Updates in the drop-down menu. They learned the entire staff had access to the evidence room, which Hackel and Wickersham said is highly improper. In 2017, there were 110 deaths related to heroin (CBS DETROIT) - Two Macomb County workers are charged after stealing drugs from the medical examiner's office. The Macomb County Medical Examiner & Coroner, located in Clinton, MI, keeps death records for individuals who passed away in Clinton. 200,000 lose power as snowstorm blankets Detroit region, St. Mary student to compete in her fourth Macomb County Regional Spelling Bee, Macomb County prepares for inclement weather, Warren man charged with 2nd-degree murder in Royal Oak womans death, Ford to raise production as US auto sales start to recover, Man arraigned in Warren Dollar General robberies, Lorenzo Cultural Centers new program series highlights post-WWII societal change presentations, performances and exhibits, Macomb Sheriff switches motorcycle unit from Harley-Davidson to BMW, SE Michigan under winter storm warning; 6-8 inches of snow expected, Warren man charged with 2nd-degree murder in Royal Oak woman's death, Detroit firefighter charged with dealing drugs in several Macomb County cities, Sterling Heights mom has spent months looking for son, Ray Twp. Fetting and Kettlewell were bothfired from the medical examiner's office. After the public controversy, Macomb County added new provisions to its contract with Chief Medical Examiner Daniel Spitz, who has held the position since 2004. The employees, a 50-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, allegedly took some drugs instead of properly disposing of them. The employees made admissions to stealing other drugs from the chain of evidence process but were not responsible for the missing hydrocodone pills, officials said. (CBS DETROIT) - Two Macomb County workers are charged after stealing drugs from the medical examiner's office. Employees brought in a cake to the office that contained a black penis made of frosting the day after George Floyds death, and pornographic images of mostly men were placed on a wall and computer screen-savers, officials said. Other allegations included employees mocking Blacks asking about the death of their loved ones, bullying and the displaying of pornography around the workplace. Thirty-two-year-old Jocelyn Fetting and 50-year-old Jacob Kettlewell allegedly stole over a thousand pills from the facility's property room, Fox 2 reported Wednesday. The offensive cake was served one day after George Floyd died while in police custody, the Detroit Free Press reported. Prior to filing a complaint, the investigator said, she tried to minimize her exposure to the harassment and hostility in the office. I dont even have access, nor want access, to the property room.. One employee supposedly resold the drugs while the other kept them for personal use, they said. You may not use this site for the purposes of furnishing consumer reports about search subjects or for any use prohibited by the FCRA. The death investigatorsays that she has often been given the responsibility of identifying the bodies of African Americans whose families have been considered "hostile" or "difficult" by office staff. I mean, as large as the sheriffs office is -- I have four people that have access to our property room. 2023 FOX Television Stations, allege they stole drugs from people at the morgue, The heaviest snow is behind us heading into the weekend, Snow storm shuts down Detroit Metro Airport, Power outages hit Metro Detroit hard as winter storm pounds area, WATCH - Jennifer Hammond talks with Detroit Titans guard Antoine Davis after coming up just short of the NCAA all-time scoring record, Suspect still wanted after brutal beating of victims after they shoveled his snow last winter in Detroit, Inside the Paint Bus - an art studio on wheels born in Detroit, Disneyland banned Rebel Wilson over selfie, actress says, New 5G cell tower on Wyandotte elemntary school has parents livid as meeting turns hostile, Southeast Michigan weather: The latest totals and what to expect tonight. Phone: (323) 343-0512. First published on February 2, 2023 / 6:38 PM. Nobody wants to terminate employees. HURON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (FOX 2) - Police say an employee working for the Wayne County Morgue used his position to stake out potential victims and even had a cover story in the event he got. The complainant was told the Free Press that she wanted to report the conduct sooner but feared retalitation from co-workers. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. 43585 Elizabeth Rd DETROIT (FOX 2) - Keith Appling was sentenced to 18-40 years in prison following his guilty plea for a fatal shooting in 2021. A fourth employee remains on paid administrative leave as investigators. They discovered minimal oversight of the evidence room and the chain of custody for items, often drugs, taken from death scenes, officials said.