The Baldwin County Coroner's Office (BCCO) is working to strengthen services amid record growth.
Baldwin County Coroner Brian Pierce outlined the cases his office responded to in the past year and explained how his long-term planning structure has helped ease a strain he said previously led to staff burnout.
To address the challenges, Pierce restructured the office to include a command staff, full-time certified death investigators, and trained deputy coroners who provide on-call services.
"Over the past several years, the BCCO has undergone a significant transformation," said Pierce. "The office has evolved from a single-coroner operation into a fully functioning agency model."
Pierce said he still wants to enhance family outreach, increase training and expand forensic and investigative services.
In fiscal year 2025 (FY2025), 463 deaths were reported. Of those, 1,811 were reported to the coroner's office. Of those cases, 642 reached the level of requiring a coroner's investigation. The caseload slightly decreased from 685 in 2024 but increased significantly from 562 in 2023.
"The Baldwin County Coroner's Office worked alongside 17 agencies with investigations of death that occurred in Baldwin County," Pierce reported. "The BCCO also handled 190 death investigations that had no law enforcement involvement."
Gunshot wounds and drug-related fatalities remained the most significant contributing factors to unnatural deaths in the county. According to an annual report obtained by 1819 News, there were 45 gunshot wound deaths, 36 overdose deaths and 34 blunt force trauma deaths.
In FY 2025, 48% of overdose deaths involved fentanyl.
Of the blunt force trauma deaths, 24 were motor vehicle accidents, six were falls, and four were assaults.
Authorities in Baldwin County previously raised concerns about an increasing number of suicides. In the last fiscal year, there were 47 confirmed suicides, above the average over the past decade.
Those experiencing a mental crisis in Alabama are urged to call 988 to be connected with a crisis counselor.
Pierce said the BCCO will continue to maintain a one-hour response time across the county.
"We will continue to work diligently to ensure Baldwin County is prepared to serve its citizens and visitors alike, with knowledgeable, empathetic, and timely after-life care," Pierce stated. "As Baldwin County grows, so should our ability to serve it."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every day or become a member to gain access to exclusive content and 1819 News merch.
