Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has taken legal action, alleging that a county coroner engaged in theft of cash from a deceased individual and provided inaccurate information regarding the causes of death for many people.
Bailey has also submitted a petition to have Cape Girardeau County Coroner Wavis Jordan dismissed from his position. The individual is facing multiple charges, including three felonies for providing false information to vital records and one misdemeanor for stealing, as per to Fox News.
Republican AG Pursues Removal of Public Officials
A sitting Republican has a track record of using legal procedures to pursue the removal of public officials. In the past, they have initiated similar proceedings against former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly N. Gardner and the former Iron County sheriff.
Jordan, also a Republican, assumed office in 2021 and drew attention that same year for his admission of underreporting COVID-19 fatalities. Instead of attributing deaths to the virus, Jordan frequently recorded myocardial infarction, colloquially known as a heart attack, as the cause of death, leading to inaccuracies in pandemic-related mortality data.
The precise record of causes of death on official records is of utmost importance, as it serves an essential part in generating death figures, guiding medical research funding, setting public health priorities, and assessing health indicators across various tiers of governance. Bailey identified the value of this procedure.
Apart from allegations of faking death certificates, Bailey mentioned cases of stealing and inappropriate behavior by Jordan. Court documents state that a police investigation turned up anomalies in the way a dead person's wallet was handled; although it was documented by officials as carrying cash, Jordan subsequently discovered it to be empty, according to St. Louis Post Dispatch.
Coroner Faces Felony Charges
Furthermore, Bailey detailed instances where Jordan allegedly misled family members regarding the circumstances of a deceased individual's passing, suggesting falsification of death certificates for personal convenience.
The charges brought against Jordan encompass three felony counts of providing false information to vital records, along with one misdemeanor count of stealing. If convicted, Jordan faces a potential sentence of up to 12 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Efforts to reach Jordan for comment were unsuccessful, and his next court appearance is scheduled for March 8.
Responding to the legal action against Jordan, the Cape Girardeau County Commission issued a statement affirming its awareness of the situation and its commitment to monitoring the legal proceedings. The commission emphasized the need for an impartial resolution and pledged to adhere to judicial directives.
Meanwhile, discussions regarding the future of the coroner's office have already begun within the commission. Considerations include the possibility of transitioning to a medical examiner system as an alternative to the current coroner structure.
The administrative and juridical circumstances surrounding Jordan's term as Cape Girardeau Coroner are still being examined and discussed with regard to all of this, US News reported.
