Sheridan County coroner reports rising suicides, outlines office upgrades and partnerships

Dr. Robert Byrd, Sheridan County coroner, briefed the Sheridan City Council on Aug. 18 about changes to his office—s location and operations, partnerships with neighboring medical-examiner offices and growing local suicide numbers.

Byrd summarized the office—s move from the courthouse into the law enforcement center at 1604 North Main and said the office has expanded investigative and specialty capabilities. He reviewed state statutes that govern coroner duties (citing statutes on cause and manner of death, archaeological discovery procedures and records custody) and said the office is custodian of records, which ultimately belong to the state.

Byrd described attempts to coordinate tissue-donation recoveries with a donor alliance (based in Colorado) and said the county is working to allow recovery teams to use local facilities rather than traveling long distances. He also reported a partnership with the Montana medical examiner—s office in Billings for pathology services, noting recruitment of a local pathologist remains a challenge because current market compensation for pathologists is high.

Byrd presented year-by-year call statistics he provided to the council: for 2023 the coroner—s office recorded 97 coroner calls, including 2 homicides, 6 suicides, 12 accidents and 4 drug- or alcohol-related overdoses. For 2024 the office recorded 107 calls with 4 homicides, 12 suicides and 22 accidents. For 2025 so far he said there were no homicides, 12 suicides (10 by firearm), 8 accidents and 2 drug- or alcohol-related deaths; he noted the year is not finished and said those figures are a concern.

"Our mission was is we were trying to build and grow and fix things," Byrd said as he summarized improvements in office capacity and procedures. He said the coroner—s mass-fatality and pandemic plan has been revised, that airport hangars and state assets could expand temporary capacity if needed, and that the office has deputies with specialties including anthropology and odontology. Byrd said the office is still seeking a pathologist and currently relies on the Billings medical examiner for autopsy services.

Council members acknowledged the concerning suicide numbers and noted local prevention training and behavioral-health resources. The coroner said his staff participates in a suicide-intervention committee and that the hospital is building a behavioral-health center; he urged continued attention to prevention and treatment resources.

No formal council action was required on the coroner—s update.