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Hardin County coroner reports rising autopsies, overdose cases and increased transports
Summary
Coroner Pat Elmore told the Fiscal Court that April and May caseloads rose, with April at 88 cases and May at 97; year-to-date autopsies increased to 13 and toxicology submissions to 29. The coroner highlighted overdoses involving kratom, methadone and methamphetamine and said transports rose to 65.
Coroner Pat Elmore presented April and May caseload statistics to the Hardin County Fiscal Court on June 23, 2026, reporting increases in autopsies and toxicology submissions and noting multiple overdoses.
Elmore said April’s caseload totaled 88 cases, including three accidents, several overdoses (noted substances included gabapentin, doxylamine, methadone and kratom), three suicides and 82 natural deaths. For May, Elmore reported 97 cases that included a motor-vehicle accident, an overdose involving methamphetamine, two autopsies pending toxicology results, one suicide and 92 natural deaths.
On trend data, the coroner said year-to-date autopsies were 13 and that toxicology submissions had risen to 29. Transports increased to 65 compared with the prior year, and the coroner noted that recent EMS transports — previously recorded at zero in a prior period — were completed.
Quotations: Coroner Pat Elmore said, “These numbers have actually increased in the last couple days… The year to date on our autopsy… 13 autopsies, toxicology has jumped 29.” The coroner also asked if there were any questions; none were recorded.
Why it matters: Rising autopsy and toxicology counts and continuing overdose incidents indicate public-health and public-safety concerns for the county and may bear on EMS capacity, coroner resources and prevention efforts. The coroner did not provide more granular demographic data or specific locations of incidents.
Next steps: The coroner invited questions from the court and did not request immediate formal action; departments and public-health partners may review data for prevention and response needs.
