Appointment surprises new Perry County coroner

Jim Martin said he was surprised to get a call from Gov. Jay Nixon’s office Wednesday telling him he had been appointed Perry County, Missouri, coroner.

Martin is the chairman of the Perry County Central Democratic Committee. He applied to the governor’s office to replace Herbert Miller, who resigned Dec. 15, but his committee nominated someone else for the position.

Martin thought deputy coroner Pat Naeger, who served as coroner from 1988 through 1994, would be appointed, even though Naeger is a Republican.

“I really thought he was the best person for the job,” Martin said of Naeger.

Martin has experience with death investigations, working in an advocacy position for the Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services.

Martin would interview people and look at evidence surrounding a suspicious death, often of someone with developmental disabilities or a mental illness. Once the interviews were finished, Martin and other investigators would recommend legal action.

Those investigations might not begin for several months after the person died, however.

Naeger said the Perry County coroner mainly deals with deaths by natural causes.

In rare cases, the coroner needs to collect and maintain physical evidence and determine the cause of death based on the evidence.

Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf said the work of a coroner can be important in some cases.

“It’s the toughest job I’ve ever had,” Naeger said. “Sometimes the outcome of the investigation is very much determined by what the coroner determines. In a criminal investigation, the body becomes a major component of the evidence. It’s all about preservation and how you handle evidence.”

Most of Martin’s previous work experience is as a special-education teacher for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

He still is a substitute teacher for Parkview School for children with disabilities.

“I’m going to get the maximum amount of training and preparation to get myself up to speed,” Martin said. “My hope is, No. 1, is to ensure that people feel positive about the position of coroner. ... I want people to have a trust in that position.”

Miller was sentenced in December to five years of probation for felony financial exploitation of the elderly.

Martin said many people in the community will see his appointment as political.

The Perry County Commission swore Martin in Thursday.

Commissioner James Sutterer said he wasn’t sure whether nominating someone without experience was in the best interest of the county. But Sutterer said Naeger did not have direct experience when he was elected coroner.

“He’s willing to learn and ask questions, but he doesn’t have any experience at all,” Commissioner Patrick Heaps said of Martin.

Commissioners noted Missouri state statutes do not require any type of work experience for a person to qualify as a county coroner.

Missouri Statute 53.030 states to qualify, the person must be a citizen of the U.S., at least 21 years old and have resided in the state for a year and in the county where he or she is elected for 6 months.

If anything were to happen to Schaaf before the November election, Martin would be authorized to perform all the duties of the sheriff until another sheriff could be appointed.

Naeger said he believes Nixon made the coroner decision based solely on politics.

“Instead of the doing the right thing, we do the political thing. I think he made a political decision,” Naeger said. “Ninety-nine percent of people would go, ‘What the hell just happened?’ ... This reflects poorly on (Nixon’s) judgment. The people of Perry County have a right to a better outcome. ... More people care about politics than principles.”

Naeger said the most important part of the coroner’s job is being compassionate in the midst of the worst moment in someone’s life.

“It’s a humility thing. You have to put yourself in their position, and you can’t let it be a job,” Naeger said. “What just happened is the worst moment in their life. ... You have to be compassionate and you have to be honest.”

Martin attested to Naeger’s thoughtfulness in this role. He said Naeger was wonderful in addressing the grief of his wife, Dorothy, when her first husband died.

Naeger said Martin should be suited to be coroner in this capacity.

Naeger said he’s not sure whether he will remain on as deputy coroner.

Commissioners said they are willing to work with Martin in any way they can.

Schaaf said he is happy someone has been appointed to fill the position, and he can relinquish the coroner duties he has held since Dec. 15.

“I don’t need the extra work,” Schaaf said.

Perryville police chief Direk Hunt released a short statement on Martin’s appointment.

“We look forward to working with Mr. Martin in the future and anticipate the continued professional relationship we have always maintained with the coroner’s office,” Hunt wrote.

The Perry County coroner is up for election in August and November.

So far, former Cape Girardeau police officer William Bohnert has filed as a Republican.

Martin said he was not sure whether he was going to run. Naeger said he is not going to run.

“The hours are really long, and the pay is terrible,” Naeger said.

Nixon’s office could not be reached for comment.

bkleine@semissourian.com

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