Washington County Coroner's Office

08/30/2026

26156 - One person was found dead as a result of a fire which occurred on August 29, 2026 in Monongahela.

08/21/2026

06/12/2026

In Pennsylvania, the fact that death occurred is public record.

Courts have consistently upheld that the public has a right to know who died; as well as where, when, how, and by what manner.

In investigations where there may be a great public interest, or when a media inquiry is made, our office will issue a public information release report, or "news release," to members of the press.

News releases are sent directly to the press, and when approved for posting, will be posted to this page.

The news release contains only the public information about the incident.

Identity is withheld until the family can be notified, and we don't release specific information which could compromise an investigation (such as a number of wounds, or the make of a knife.) Details which are only known to the investigators and those involved in the incident are not public record.

While we understand that some family members will wish not to have their loved one's name published, it is important to note that we cannot withhold this basic information from the press.

06/01/2026

26095 - A man was killed after losing control of his vehicle near a Peters Township shopping plaza late on May 31, 2026.

06/01/2026

26097 - A contractor was killed while felling a tree at a Canton Township residence.

[Edit: Updated following notification of next of kin.]

05/23/2026

26091 - One person was struck and killed by a vehicle in Chartiers Township on Saturday, May 23rd, 2026.

The incident was reported to Washington County 911 at 2:05AM.

[Edit: identity released, following family notification.]

04/11/2026

After nearly a year, DNA extraction and analysis is completed, and the family is fully notified.

We can now both confirm, and release, the identity of the person whose skeletonized remains were found off of Interstate 70, behind Terrace Avenue, in Washington on May 24, 2025.

Robertson Wuyoch was last seen by his family on June 11, 2020 when he left their rental on Main Street to walk to the store. When he didn't return home, his family filed a missing persons report.

The drawstring of his hooded sweatshirt was found around his neck, the end of it entangled in a tree branch. The tree, in fact, grew around and enveloped the string.

He died as a consequence of hanging; there's not enough information to determine whether his sweatshirt drawstring got hung up on a tree, or whether his death was intentional; the act of su***de. We can say it was not a homicide.

Among his personal effects were his cellular phone and a facemask -- a relic of the COVID restrictions at the time.

This resolution was only possible thorough the cooperation of all of the agencies involved. The City of Washington Police Department, with which we investigated the death scene. The South Strabane Township Police Department, which took the inital missing persons report. Pennsylvania State Police Troop B, who provided forensic support, and the instructors and students of Mercyhurst University, whom assisted with the tedious process of gridding, documenting, scanning, and finally excavating the remains.

Ms. Beth Gandelman of Washington was our only link to Mr. Wuyoch's family. When our investigators reached out to her--totally out of the blue--to determine if she had any contact information about a family who moved out several years prior, she had no reason to trust or no obligation to help.

However, she did. And were finally able to reach Mr. Wuyoch's family both out of state and overseas.

We don't often post our news releases or case histories here, but we have Mr. Wuyoch's families permission.

Even though it's tragic that Mr. Wuyoch lost his life, his family now knows what happened. And more importantly, they now know where he is: back home with them in Micronesia.

As good of an outcome as could be expected, thanks to the amazing cooperation between all the agencies above and a concerned citizen.

04/10/2026

Many equate the coroner to a funeral director. They assume our job is to come out and pick someone up when they die.

No disrespect to our funeral director friends, who do their jobs compassionately, but our role is actually death investigation. Our job is to view the body, the scene, and to conduct interviews to determine how someone came to their death. Sometimes that includes an autopsy, and sometimes not.

We put the pieces of the puzzle together; we're detectives who work with the deceased.

But often, our jobs are more than that. They go beyond the 9-5 office hours, and the 24-hour on call shifts 7 out of every 21 days.

We meet people who on their worst days, and our job is to find fact while having compassion for the living and respect for the dead.

Meet Diamond: her human mom died, and the family took as many animals as they could, but Diamond is homeless. Diamond need her haircut, some veterinary care, and one heck of a manicure.

And so we share our compassion with animals, too. "Animals make us human," after all.

Right now, Diamond has no where to go. Our friends at the Washington Area Humane Society have no room at the inn, so for now, our investigators will "foster" her.

If you can find room in your heart and home, adopt a dog. Sometimes, their stories are just as sad as ours.

And to our friends in law enforcement, EMS, fire, healthcare, emergency dispatchers, humane officers, death care and all of the other unsung heros: thank you for doing what you do, everyday, even when it's hard.

To my team, thank you for caring for (and about) the animals just as much as you care about the people we work with--living and dead.

--Chief Deputy Yancosek

12/28/2025

This season reminds us of the importance of compassion. We are thinking of the families who have lost someone; today and always.

This Christmas, we wish you peace, and the comfort of warm memories.

09/17/2025

Our thoughts and prayers to our colleague Pam in York County, her team, and other York County first responders; and the families of those killed and injured.

PRAYERS FOR PA | Five officers were shot in York County, Pennsylvania, Wednesday afternoon. Three of the officers died and two are in critical condition. Authorities believe there is not an active threat to the public and they have not released what led up to the shooting. Gov. Josh Shapiro described it as an "absolutely tragic and devastating day for York County and the entire commonwealth of Pennsylvania." https://www.wnep.com/article/news/nation-world/pennsylvania-shooting-involving-police/507-3f19df6b-299f-4a28-8d54-33eabac0f437?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_WNEP-TV