Jefferson County Coroner's Office

10/23/2026

--Fun (Random?) Fact in Forensic Science--

Koalas have similar fingerprints to humans! Like humans, their prints have friction ridges, or raised bands of skin, on the fingertips and the palms. These friction ridges make up an infinite amount of unique patterns of whorls, loops, arches, bifurcations, end points, and islands.

We use these details to make a positive identification of a decedent by comparing their post mortem print with an antemortem print.

Other animals like chimps have similar print structures as humans, but we are both primates while koalas are marsupials. Fortunately (or unfortunately for the story of it all) there's no record of a koala contaminating a crime scene.

Whose print is whose? The left print is human, the right is a chimp's, and the middle is a koala's.

10/16/2026

10/15/2026

🍂🍂Walks are getting crunchy!🍂🍂

Getting outside this time of year is a feast for the senses, especially in Colorado. Leaves are changing color, the air is cooler (or we get a second summer), and the already fallen leaves crunch under the feet. It's a great time to check in on your heart health and improve your physical and mental well being by being outside and enjoying some fall!

Increased levels of activity have been shown to do wonders for the human body:

-Help prevent heart disease and cancers
-Reduce anxiety and depression
-Lower your risk for high blood pressure
-Maintain a healthy body weight
-Improve your mental health and over all quality of life.

We hope to see you out there! Until then, here are some nice fall photos to enjoy.

10/09/2026

If you want to get an inside look at what we do every day as coroner investigators and learn more about our cold cases, check out the latest Engage Jeffco Podcast, Beyond the Yellow Tape: Inside the Jeffco Coroner's Office.

Thanks to the Jefferson County Colorado Government Jefferson County Colorado Government public affairs team for having us on!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-yellow-tape-inside-the-jeffco-coroners-office/id1797374681?i=1000793907788

For more great podcasts and content you can find all of their episodes here: https://www.jeffco.us/5208/Engage-Jeffco-Podcast

09/25/2026

09/23/2026

September is National Su***de Prevention Month. While su***de prevention is a year-round commitment, this month is meant to reinforce awareness of the mental health challenges that affect members of our community every day as we head into the winter months. In 2025, our office investigated 128 deaths by su***de. 77% of those deaths were male. Nobody has to struggle alone.

If you or someone you know are in CRISIS:

Call or text 988 for 24/7 for immediate support.

Or

There is a 24/7 Walk-In Crisis Center by Jefferson Center for Mental Health in Wheat Ridge to talk with someone face-to-face. They can also be reached at (303) 425-0300.

Treat others with kindness and acknowledge the challenges we all face in our day-to-day lives. Take care of yourself and your loved ones and use the resources within our county and outside.

For more information and more resources visit the JCMH website at
https://www.jcmh.org/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=yext

***deprevention

When you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health, substance use, or emotional crisis, Jefferson Center is here 24/7 with immediate support and compassionate care.

09/22/2026

Our Chief Deputy Coroner, Melanie Gutteea, will be instructing a four-part online course on Applied Medicolegal Death Investigation through the Arapahoe Community College. The course covers fundamental introductions into various aspects of our work as Medicolegal Death Investigators. The first session will be held this Thursday, September 24th from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. It’s not too late to sign up, and the classes can be taken individually or as the whole four-part series. See the flyers below for more information and use the associated QR code to sign up!

09/17/2026

The Mugs for Rugs event last Tuesday was a huge success at the APEX Center in Arvada. The event was a collaboration between the Coroner’s Office, Jefferson County Public Health, and the Arvada Fire Protection District to focus on Fall Prevention. Annette Cannon - Jefferson County Coroner, who serves on the Foothills RETAC Board, obtained about 40 mugs that were given out with emergency kits, flashlights, educational handouts, and weather radios from JCPH, and file for life cards, non-slip socks, safety information, and more from AFD. The donated rugs go to Foothills Animal Shelter.

Thank you to everyone who participated!

09/11/2026

Today marks 25 years since the terrible events of September 11, 2001 that changed this nation forever. We take pause today to remember the lives lost and honor the courage of the first responders and everyday heroes who answered the call that day. We will never forget.

09/02/2026

Thanks Vitalant - Colorado for helping us host our second blood drive of 2026.

And Thank you to those of you who came out to donate their blood to help save lives. Stay tuned for future events and chances to donate!

Vitalant

https://www.vitalant.org/