Death is inevitable and can happen for no obvious reason, initiating an investigation to discover how the death occurred. An experienced coroner can often determine if the cause of death was homicide, suicide, accidental or other reason.
As a law enforcement officer for 19 years and former detective, I know how important the coroner’s job is in suspicious or unattended death investigations. An inexperienced coroner can frequently miss important details. Those of us in the field know that you have one chance to conduct a thorough investigation before anything is moved and evidence potentially lost.
Years ago, the coroner would pick up the body and, if it was a suspicious death, send it to a forensic pathologist for examination. For several years, we were fortunate to have Dr. Carol Huser as our coroner. She was thorough and a great teacher. Being in a rural county, residents need experience and professionalism even more than ever because we don’t have the benefit of a forensic pathologist. But we do have Beverly Begay running for county coroner, who has more experience and training than the incumbent and is a true investigator.
After double majoring in criminal justice and political science, Beverly completed basic police officer training in 1989, then focused her training and education in death investigations. Prior to moving to Durango in 2012, she was the chief forensic investigator and grievance coordinator in Harris County – Houston – home to more than 6 million residents, investigating multiple deaths daily. As the senior deputy medical investigator for New Mexico and the public information officer, she delivered the important results to families and media. She knows the sensitive issues surrounding a death.
She works well with the District Attorney’s Office, law enforcement and the media. She hopes to provide more public education surrounding death investigations and ways to prevent death through safety practices. Her career is brimming with experience, and we need her as our coroner. She brings widespread experience to La Plata County, which she calls home. Visit her Facebook page, and cast your vote for Beverly Begay!
Rita Warfield
Durango
