Coroner William J. "B.J." Goodwin is McDonald County Coroner.
He and his deputies are responsible for responding to any unattended death, meaning a death not under the supervision of a physician. This includes homicides, suicides and automobile fatalities.
"We have to verify that there is an actual death and I have to determine the manner and cause of passing," he said. "We work hand in hand with the authorities in investigating the death. We're on call 365 days a year, 24 hours a day to respond."
He said the county uses the Medical Examiner's office in Springfield for autopsies.
"I don't know a single living coroner who has ever done their own autopsies. Even though the law allows coroners to perform autopsies, we opt not to do it, to allow a forensic pathologist to do it," he said.
Goodwin is in his third term as coroner.
"I've been in death care my entire life -- since I was 15 years old," he said. "I'm a Missouri licensed funeral director and embalmer and national board certified."
For the past 14 years he has owned Ozark Funeral Home serving all of McDonald County, as well as other locations in southwest Missouri.
His chief deputy is Tracy Dowd. She has been with him since 2012. Deputy Jason Messley has been with him for 14 years. Deputy John Garwacki has also been with him for 14 years. All three are full-time employees at the funeral home.
"It's a job that nobody gives a lot of thought to," Goodwin said. "We're an office that nobody looks forward to dealing with."
The Coroner's Office notifies families when there is a death unless it is out of town or out of state, in which case they will notify the local authorities to have them make the notification, Goodwin said.
"I prefer to go in person if at all possible," he said.
"That's what's tough about being in a small town, because I know everybody. I think it brings comfort to some people that they know me and they've established trust."
General News on 10/12/2017