By KEVIN NEVERS

Drug-related deaths decreased slightly last year in Porter County, while suicides were at a 13-year high, according to the 2007 report released this morning by the Coroner’s Office.

At the same time, motor vehicle accident (MVA) fatalities nearly doubled, although that figure is slightly misleading, since the number of MVA fatalities reported in the previous year, 2006, was the second lowest recorded in 13 years.

A total of 16 people died from drug ingestion in 2007, compared to 18 in 2006, a decrease of 11 percent. Of those 16 deaths, four were attributed to heroin overdoses, compared to two in 2006, an increase of 100 percent; six to other illicit drug overdoses; three to prescription drug overdoses; two to mixed drug reactions; and one to alcohol poisoning.

Two of the 16 victims were Dunelanders, a 39-year-old male and a 47-year-old male, the latter of whom committed suicide. Fourteen were male. The youngest was 21, the oldest was 55, five were aged 21 to 26, and the average age of the 16 victims was 36.

Suicides

A total of 29 suicides were reported, compared to 21 in 2006, an increase of 38 percent. That number represents the most suicides recorded in Porter County in the last 13 years, with the next highest, 24, reported in 2003 and the fewest, 14, reported twice, in 2000 and 1998. Over the last 13 years Porter County has averaged 19 per year.

Of those 29 suicides, 12 died by hanging; 10 by gunshot wound; three by carbon monoxide poisoning; two by fall; one by alcohol poisoning; and one by hydrocarbon poisoning. Eight of the suicides or 28 percent were Dunelanders, six of those eight were males, the youngest was a 17-year-old girl, and the average age of the eight was 38.

Accidents

Meanwhile, 27 people died in MVAs in 2007, compared to 14 in 2006, an increase of 93 percent. The 14 in 2006, though, was a 12-year low, with only one year in the last 13 recording fewer MVA fatalities: eight in 1997. By way of comparison 29 people died in MVAs in 2005, 36 in 2004, 33 in 2002, 30 in 2000, and 27 in 1999. Over the last 13 years Porter County has averaged 24 MVA fatalities per year.

Of those 27 fatalities, 10 occurred in Duneland—compared to four in 2006—and two in the Town of Chesterton. Six of the victims were pedestrians, compared to only one in 2006. Two of the crashes involved, motorcycles, compared to three in 2006. Two involved trains, compared to none in 2006. Eight involved semis, compared to five in 2006.

Other Accidents

After drug overdoses and MVAs, there were nine other fatal accidents in Porter County last year:

•Three drowned, compared to two in 2006: a 41-year-old Hebron man in a bathtub; a 47 year-old Kouts man in a swimming pool; and a 38-year-old Valparaiso woman with cocaine in her system in “fresh water,” location not specified.

•Four died in falls, compared to one in 2006.

•One died of head trauma, with no further information made available.

•One died in a house fire.

•One person choked to death on food.

•A 1-month-old infant girl died of asphyxia in an incident of overlay.

A total of 54 accidental deaths were reported in 2007, compared to 38 in 2006, an increase of 42 percent. Over the last 13 years Porter County has averaged 40 accidental deaths per year, with a high of 59 in 2002 and a low of 24 in 1995.

Homicides

Two homicides were reported in 2007, compared to two in 2006: Marilyn Stephens, 74, of Valparaiso who was accidentally shot to death on April 10 by a police officer after her husband took her hostage during a domestic dispute; and Christopher Janus, 15, of South Haven, who was beaten to death. Charges have been filed in the latter incident.

Over the last 13 years Porter County has averaged three homicides per year, with a high of six in 2000 and a low of none in 1998.

The Coroner’s Office

Coroner Vicki Deppe ordered 78 autopsies in 2007, compared to 70 in 2006, an increase of 11 percent. Five of those autopsies were performed by a forensic pathologist, compared to seven in 2006. Over the last 13 years the Coroner’s Office has ordered an average of 75 autopsies per year, with a high of 98 in 2002 and a low of 59 in 1996 and also in 2003.

Deppe also ordered 98 toxicology screens in 2007, compared to 91 in 2006, an increase of 8 percent. Over the last 13 years the Coroner’s Office has ordered an average of 96 tox screens per year, with a high of 118 in 2002 and a low of 72 in 1996.

Last year 338 deaths were reported to the Coroner’s Office, compared to 297 in 2006, an increase of 14 percent. Of those 338, Deppe investigated the circumstances, determined the manner and cause of death, and signed the death certificate in 168 cases, compared to 127 cases in 2006, an increase of 32 percent. In the remaining cases the decedents’ physicians signed the death certificates.

Over the last 13 years the Coroner’s Office has investigated an average of 121 deaths per year, with a high last year of 168 and a low of 100 in 1996.

A total of 1,336 deaths was recorded in 2007 by the Vital Records Division of the Porter County Health Department, compared to 1,347 in 2006, a marginal increase of 1 percent.

Posted 1/31/2008