Two coroners charged with stealing coin collections from dead men
Michigan
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Madison County deputy coroners are indicted for theft
By Leah Thorsen
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
12/15/2005
Martha Hampton (left) and Elizabeth Radcliff
EDWARDSVILLE
Two Madison County deputy coroners stole coin collections and cash while conducting death investigations, according to indictments handed up Thursday by a grand jury.
The indictments charge Martha Hampton, 50, of Wood River, and Elizabeth Radcliff, 34, of Alton, with official misconduct, theft and bribery, all felonies.
Court documents say the women stole from the residences of Malcolm J. Boyer and James R. McCurdy while investigating the circumstances of their deaths.
Documents also say they stole the personal property from the estate of Donald J. Smith.
The documents did not specify where the men lived. No information was available Thursday about how much money was stolen or the value of the coin collections.
The indictment also alleges that both women accepted a $500 bribe to use their influence to help a woman win a county cleaning contract.
That woman has not been charged.
Hampton and Radcliff are accused of commiting the crimes between June 25, 2003, and March 10, 2004.
Coroner Steve Nonn issued a statement on Thursday saying that the alleged actions of the women were a betrayal of the trust of bereaved family members, as well as of the men and women of law enforcement.
"Although the coroner's office has had procedures in place to prevent situations like this from occurring, we will be revising and strengthening those procedures and protocols to ensure it does not ever happen again in Madison County," Nonn said.
Efforts to reach Radcliff, of the 1200 block of Washington Avenue in Alton, and Hampton, of the 800 block of Condit Avenue in Wood River, were not successful.
Both women resigned this summer - Radcliff's employment was terminated July 11, and Hampton's on Aug. 19, according to county payroll records.
The records show that each earned $17.50 an hour.
The Public Integrity Unit of the Illinois State Police was called in on July 18 to investigate the allegations.
That investigation included an audit of the coroner's evidence vault, although police did not say what that audit found.
"It saddens me that we would have two employees indicted," said Alan Dunstan, chairman of the Madison County Board.
He said no one complained about the thefts, and that authorities discovered them internally.
Hampton began her career in the coroner's office in 1985, when she was hired as a pathologist assistant. She was promoted to a full-time investigator in 2003.
Radcliff was hired as a full-time investigator in 2002, the coroner's office said.
The maximum penalty if convicted on all three charges is 17 years in prison.
On Thursday, arrest warrants were issued for both women, with bail set at $10,000.
Neither was listed as an inmate at the Madison County Jail late Thursday.
By Leah Thorsen
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
12/15/2005
Martha Hampton (left) and Elizabeth Radcliff
EDWARDSVILLE
Two Madison County deputy coroners stole coin collections and cash while conducting death investigations, according to indictments handed up Thursday by a grand jury.
The indictments charge Martha Hampton, 50, of Wood River, and Elizabeth Radcliff, 34, of Alton, with official misconduct, theft and bribery, all felonies.
Court documents say the women stole from the residences of Malcolm J. Boyer and James R. McCurdy while investigating the circumstances of their deaths.
Documents also say they stole the personal property from the estate of Donald J. Smith.
The documents did not specify where the men lived. No information was available Thursday about how much money was stolen or the value of the coin collections.
The indictment also alleges that both women accepted a $500 bribe to use their influence to help a woman win a county cleaning contract.
That woman has not been charged.
Hampton and Radcliff are accused of commiting the crimes between June 25, 2003, and March 10, 2004.
Coroner Steve Nonn issued a statement on Thursday saying that the alleged actions of the women were a betrayal of the trust of bereaved family members, as well as of the men and women of law enforcement.
"Although the coroner's office has had procedures in place to prevent situations like this from occurring, we will be revising and strengthening those procedures and protocols to ensure it does not ever happen again in Madison County," Nonn said.
Efforts to reach Radcliff, of the 1200 block of Washington Avenue in Alton, and Hampton, of the 800 block of Condit Avenue in Wood River, were not successful.
Both women resigned this summer - Radcliff's employment was terminated July 11, and Hampton's on Aug. 19, according to county payroll records.
The records show that each earned $17.50 an hour.
The Public Integrity Unit of the Illinois State Police was called in on July 18 to investigate the allegations.
That investigation included an audit of the coroner's evidence vault, although police did not say what that audit found.
"It saddens me that we would have two employees indicted," said Alan Dunstan, chairman of the Madison County Board.
He said no one complained about the thefts, and that authorities discovered them internally.
Hampton began her career in the coroner's office in 1985, when she was hired as a pathologist assistant. She was promoted to a full-time investigator in 2003.
Radcliff was hired as a full-time investigator in 2002, the coroner's office said.
The maximum penalty if convicted on all three charges is 17 years in prison.
On Thursday, arrest warrants were issued for both women, with bail set at $10,000.
Neither was listed as an inmate at the Madison County Jail late Thursday.
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Comments
Thank goodness we are a gentler, kinder NATION, huh ? Hangin's too good, and they only got paid $17.50 per hour ? Someone should have told them ladies about the opportunities at Burger King.
Speaking of HANGIN'... if you see them women with a sign HANGIN from their shoulders oustide of a Burger King, that says, (get this
Thanks for the story, Michigan. Interesting ! I wonder where the coins are now, and how did they find out ?
Today's journalism is lacking !
A story used to tell the whole story. Too many unanswered questions, here !
I hear ya homey
couple grand in circ silver ?
"People unclear on the concept,Grand Champion Hall of Famer" ™
Quote courtesy Joe Martin aka "MR Boffo"
Good to see that women are getting more involved in coin collecting in the Midwest!!
J
siliconvalleycoins.com
He said no one complained about the thefts, and that authorities discovered them internally.
Ummm. Yeah.
If they listed them on eBay, that would be one ESTATE SALE I would believe
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You don't seriously think this was the first time they stole from anyone?