DeKalb County Coroner's Office

08/26/2025

SUIDI (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Investigation) is a part of our training as Medicolegal Death Investigators.

Unfortunately, co-sleeping, inappropriate positioning and unnecessary bedding and other items in an infant’s sleep space can lead to terrible tragedy.

No one thinks it can happen to their family, but we sadly know it can, and it has, many times, right here in DeKalb County.

Please do not co-sleep with your baby.

08/23/2025

Today we were honored to participate in a HUGE emergency responder event, aptly called 🚨EMERGENCY!! 🚨

We were equally honored, and so excited, to meet hero K9 Millie, who recently tracked and located a lost child.

And Dave got a free sucker, so there’s that.

It was a really good day. We are so thankful for these opportunities

08/20/2025

Our office was invited to attend this awesome event. Come out and see us! It’s going to be a beautiful day.

08/13/2025

My husband and I ran into a friend last weekend. That friend relayed that he and a group of his high school classmates were together to celebrate the life of a buddy who’d taken their own life. Their friend had given no indication that they were depressed and in need of help. They all wish they’d known; they would have offered support.

This conversation brought about input from another friend who said he’d seen a shirt with the phrase “I hope you win the war you tell no one about.” That really resonated with him; it resonated with me, too. So much so that I haven’t stopped thinking about our discussion or that phrase since.

Thus far this year our office has investigated 5 confirmed suicides; we ended 2024 with 12 suicides. One is too many.

Wars are not meant to be fought alone. Please do not suffer in silence. Help is available.

🩷YOU ARE SO IMPORTANT. 🩷

988 Su***de and Crisis Hotline

-Jennie

08/08/2025

I met Eric Balliet the first year I attended Coroners Conference. Eric was an Allen County Deputy Coroner, full time Ft. Wayne Firefighter and so much more. He had the best sense of humor and a huge, empathetic, servant’s heart.

Eric often spoke of his time time volunteering at a youth burn camp; he was clearly very passionate about that cause.

Eric died in 2017 during a training session with the fire department, but no doubt his memory lives on through his good deeds. I cannot begin to imagine the positive impact he had on the children he interacted with at burn camp.

Today our department received an invitation to attend this emergency responder event; an event that brings 7,000 attendees, the proceeds of which benefit a youth burn camp.

What an honor to have been invited and what an honor it was to have had such a wonderful friend.

Thinking of you today, Eric and hoping you know what a positive impact you made in the World. You are missed, my friend.

Jennie

07/30/2025

💚THANK YOU ! 💚

Tonight we had the opportunity to participate in Garrett Night Out, and tomorrow we’ll participate in Butler Night Out. We are so thankful to be included in such events!

Through such partcipation, we hope to further build relationships and trust within our community, and to educate the public on the very important role we play.

We appreciate the support we’ve received and will continue to try our very best to always do the right thing.

07/10/2025

🩷Choose kindness.🩷

07/05/2025

07/02/2025

🌟CONGRATULATIONS & THANK YOU!🌟

Today we recognized Deputy Coroner Chad Brenneke (on the left) for 5 years of service with our department. Presenting his certificate is Jim Miller, DeKalb County Commissioner.

In addition to his deputy coroner duties, Chad is a seasoned paramedic, farmer, family man, wonderful friend and M*A*S*H enthusiast, not in any particular order. He excels at all.

Chad remains calm, cool and collected in even the most stressful situations. He is kind and empathetic, the type of person who would, without hesitation, give you the shirt off of his back.

Our department, our community, is so very lucky to have Chad!

Thank you, Chad, for all that you do, and thank you Jim for taking the time to present this award.

“We rise by lifting others.” -Robert Ingersoll

06/30/2025

🦸🏼‍♂️🌟THANK YOU LARRY! 🌟🦸🏼‍♂️

Iron Man, Batman, Superman, Larry Lane. What is the commonality? They’re all superheroes, of course.

You haven’t heard of Larry, you say? Well, let us tell you about him. We aren’t sure what his official title is, we just call him “The Fixer,” (but not in the mob sense). Larry is responsible for county building maintenance, grounds keeping and so much more. If you need something, he’s right there to help and always does so with a smile, no matter how busy he is, and he’s always busy.

Last week the AC in our office was out and blowing hot air. We have no windows, we have no fan, we ran out of Diet Coke, but we tried to power through. We thrive in the elements; we wear hooded Tyvek suits that make those shiny silver exercise sweatsuits look like nothing, for gosh sake. But then the hot flashes came (at least for some of us), and we could take no more. We subsequently dialed the Larry Lane Crisis Line, Larry was over if a jiffy and the AC was fixed in no time.

Thank you to Larry and his awesome team for all that they do! Larry has a true servant’s heart and we appreciate him so much.

“Grant me courage to serve others, for in service there is true life.” -Cesar Chavez

06/21/2025

That’s a wrap!

Another ISCA Conference is in the books
and we somehow failed to get a group photo; maybe because many of us holed up in our rooms, stuffing our faces with the candy we hoarded from vendors, as soon as classes came to a close.

But not Chad; Chad avoided all of the candy, focused on salads and was out and about making new friends. That’s how he rolls.

Pictured here with Chad, (Chad is in the snazzy blue shirt), is retired homicide Det. Gil Carrillo. Det. Carrillo helped to bring Richard Ramirez, AKA the serial killer The Night Stalker, to justice.

We are so fortunate to be afforded the opportunity to learn, network and to have some time to decompress (and stuff our faces with snack size candies), because this job is hard in many ways and knowing you’re not alone is everything.

Until next year…

06/20/2025

🇺🇸🏆CONGRATULATIONS! 🏆🇺🇸

Chief Deputy Mike Ge**er has been with the department for 22+ years, having served 2 terms as coroner.

Today, on behalf of the Indiana State Coroners Association, I had the honor of awarding Mike the Jeff Stout Service of Excellence Award, recognizing him as outstanding deputy coroner of the year for the state of Indiana. If you know Mike, you know this award is well deserved.

I am blessed beyond measure to work with the very best people.

Please take a moment to congratulate Mike on this huge honor.

-Jennie