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Fulton County coroner reports fewer deaths in 2024, outlines autopsy trends and June exercise
Summary
County coroner Jerry reported 158 deaths in Fulton County in 2024, described causes identified by the office, said coroner calls are down from prior years and previewed a full-scale emergency exercise set for June 11.
Jerry, Fulton County coroner, told the Board of Commissioners on May 19 that the county recorded 158 deaths in 2024 and that his office investigated 41% of those cases.
"The total death number in Fulton County for 2024 was 158," Jerry said, adding that the county typically sees between 202 and 219 deaths in some years. He said the coroner's office investigated 41% of deaths and completed 64 coroner's calls in 2024.
In a breakdown he provided, the coroner said there were 47 natural deaths, eight accidents, six suicides and three homicides in 2024; the office recorded no undetermined deaths. Of the eight accidents, three were falls (two at ground level, one from a ladder), three were motor vehicle accidents and two were drug overdoses. He said the six suicides included one by asphyxia and five by exsanguination.
Jerry described several autopsy findings from 2025 case results the office has received so far, ranging from complications of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in a 51-year-old male to a 26-year-old male who died of complications of influenza A. He noted some cases lack medical records, which can make determining cause without autopsy more difficult.
The coroner also said the office will attend a national coroner/deputy coroner conference next month and that staff will be covered while they attend. He previewed a full-scale emergency exercise planned for June 11 at Grass Creek, opposite the fire station, and described it as a collaborative, live exercise designed to test response and create an after-action report that could support future reimbursement and grant access.
"It's going to be held down at Grass Creek ... it's a very cool place. It's very critical that we do this and do a good job," he said. He added the exercise will include a Tier 2 chemical (which he declined to identify) and said running a realistic hazardous-material component is necessary to qualify for certain state reimbursements.
The coroner closed by saying coroner calls and autopsy activity have slowed since an early 2025 pace that had suggested a higher year-end total than so far realized.
