Following Tim Ellison’s guilty plea to theft and other ethics violations earlier this month, the county was left without a coroner. That call was filled by former coroner Joe Jeffcoat temporarily.
Last week, the duty officially fell to his son, Jody Jeffcoat, who was sworn in Friday afternoon by Judge Patrick Pinkston.
“I’m honored to be able to represent the residents of Elmore County,” said Jeffcoat Monday afternoon. “I’m not running for the coroners’ office. I’m just filling in until the new coroner is elected and goes into office in January.
Right now Brad Linville and Errol Law (both Republicans) declared before the March 13 filing deadline and will be running for coroner.
Former Elmore County coroner Tim Ellison, according to The Wetumpka Herald: “was indicted last November on 11 counts of theft in which he overbilled municipalities and the Elmore County Commission for transportation of bodies to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
In his plea agreement, Ellison pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree theft of property, which is a Class C felony.
He also pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree theft of property, which is a misdemeanor.
His third plea was to the use of his official position as county coroner for personal gain, which is a state ethics violation as well as a Class B felony.”
In the state of Alabama a coroner is a government official who confirms and certifies the death of an individual within a jurisdiction.
“I pronounce death and sign death certificates,” said Jeffcoat.
A coroner may also conduct or order an investigation into the manner or cause of death, and investigate or confirm the identity of an unknown person who has been found dead within the coroner’s jurisdiction.
