Stoddard County coroner resigns, doesn't give reason

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Board of Commissioners accepted the resignations of county Coroner Morgan Sifford and deputy coroner Dale Sifford at its regular meeting Monday.

Both men submitted letters of resignation effective Jan. 6. Under Missouri statutes, Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner or his chief deputy will "perform all duties imposed by law on the coroner." It will be up to Gov. Jay Nixon to appoint someone to fill the position.

Sifford gave no reason for his resignation in the letter.

A complaint was filed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol in regard to toxicology reports not being submitted by Sifford. The State Coroners Association Ethics Committee sent a letter to Sifford concerning the failure to submit toxicology reports as required by law.

Coroners Association executive director Eddie Wilson, of Salem, Mo., said at issue is a state law requiring toxicology reports to be filed for all drivers involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident. The Highway Patrol complaint cites three cases in 2009 and three cases in 2010 in which toxicology reports were not filed.

Wilson said these reports are critical to insurance companies and failure to file a toxicology report can lead to an insurance company failing to pay damages in an accident involving a fatality. Wilson said some insurance companies are building into motor vehicle insurance policies a clause that relieves the insurance company from liability in a fatal accident when a driver has a certain level of alcohol in their bloodstream.

Failure to file a toxicology report can automatically lead to non-payment by an insurance company involving these fatal accidents, Wilson stated.

Wilson said the ethics commission sent a letter to Sifford in November informing him of the state patrol complaint. Wilson said Sifford did not respond to the letter. He went on to say he did not know if this was the cause for Sifford's resignation.

Pertinent address:

Bloomfield, MO