Montgomery County Starting Morgue To Handle Overdose Deaths

Associated Press

Montgomery County Coroner Darren Forman says the two-space morgue at Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health Crawfordsville is often filled.
*Huw Williams/ CC-0*

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — A rural western Indiana county is setting up its first-ever county-owned morgue in response to an increase in drug overdose deaths.

Montgomery County Coroner Darren Forman says the county has relied on the Crawfordsville hospital to help store bodies, but its two-space morgue is often filled. He says relying on area funeral homes to help out isn't ideal.

The (Crawfordsville) Journal Review reports that the County Council has approved buying a cooler that can hold up to eight corpses. The new equipment will be installed in a county-owned facility now undergoing renovations.

Forman says bodies of overdose victims often need to be stored longer because their deaths are unexpected and families haven't made funeral plans.

Officials say the county has had at least nine opioid-related deaths this year.

Tags:drug overdose opioid overdose opioid crisis

Support independent journalism today. You rely on WFYI to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Donate to power our nonprofit reporting today. Give now.

Lack of data fuels concerns as new slots for Medicaid waivers are set to open July 1

In April, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration implemented a waitlist for services under an important Medicaid waiver in response to last year’s Medicaid shortfall. New waiver slots will open on July 1 — but there’s still some uncertainty around whether there will be enough slots to accommodate those on the waitlist.

Public Affairs / June 1, 2024

Closing arguments, testimony conclude in trial to challenge Indiana's abortion law

The trial in the latest legal challenge to Indianas near-total abortion ban wrapped up Friday with closing arguments from both sides. The judge will now weigh questions about specific elements of the law.

Public Affairs / May 23, 2024

'We're still in chaos': Lawmakers raise concerns about multiple, significant Medicaid changes

There’s just over a month left before several significant changes to the state’s Medicaid program go into effect, including changes to the Aged and Disabled waiver and the implementation of the Pathways for Aging program.