Butte-Silver Bow commissioners appoint Dan Hollis as interim coroner amid investigation

Butte-Silver Bow — The Butte-Silver Bow Council of Commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of Dan Hollis as interim county coroner at a special meeting on Jan. 29, 2025, voting 11-0 to concur with Chief Executive J.P. Gallagher's request.

The action follows a decision by elected coroner Lori Durkin to voluntarily step aside while county officials review a threatened or pending legal matter involving the coroner's office. County Attorney Ruth told commissioners the action is being taken pursuant to Montana Code Annotated section 7-4-2902(C), which disqualifies an elected coroner from completing duties when the official is a potential party in a threatened or pending action.

Gallagher told the council the county and the county attorney had discussed concerns about the coroner's office with Durkin and that Durkin agreed to go on paid administrative leave so a fair, impartial investigation could proceed. Gallagher said the county had difficulty relying on deputy coroners because one deputy might be involved in the matter and the other has not completed basic coroner testing. Gallagher said a former coroner, Dan Hollis, agreed to serve on an interim basis and would take the oath of coroner.

During the special meeting, public commenter Douglas Ingram, who identified himself as the widower of Caleb Bowman, addressed the council and said he had worked with an attorney to raise concerns about the coroner's actions and that some assertions from the coroner's office should have been shared only with next of kin. Ingram said the appointment of an acting coroner was a positive step for families but “fails to remotely resolve the utter and repeated wrongs inflicted on Caleb, his memory, his estate, and me by the coroner's assertions, both correct and incorrect.”

Gallagher said the county will continue to pay Durkin while she is on paid administrative leave and will absorb costs from budget lines that cover litigation and legal expenses. He also said relying on a coroner from another county for an undetermined period could cost more.

Commissioner Morgan moved to concur with communication 2020Five-five7 and appoint Dan Hollis as interim county coroner; a second was recorded and the clerk recorded the vote as 11 yays, 0 nay. The motion passed and Hollis was thanked by the chair for stepping in.

No changes to Durkin's elected status were recorded at the meeting; the action taken was to appoint an acting coroner while the investigation and any related processes continue.

The special meeting adjourned after the vote.