• Home
  • Online Services
      Online Services icon
    • Tax Records
      • Request My Vehicle Tax Bill iconRequest My Vehicle Tax Bill
      • Pay Taxes & View Records iconPay Taxes & View Records
      • Request My Watercraft Tax Bill iconRequest My Watercraft Tax Bill
      • Out of State Tag Reporting iconOut of State Tag Reporting
      • Address Change iconAddress Change
      • Homestead Exemption iconHomestead Exemption
    • Law Enforcement / Public Safety
      • Who's In Jail (Inmate Search) iconWho's In Jail (Inmate Search)
      • Charleston County's Crime Map iconCharleston County's Crime Map
      • Citizen Alert System iconCitizen Alert System
    • Court Records
      • Circuit Court Case Search iconCircuit Court Case Search
      • Court Plus iconCourt Plus
      • Daybook Search iconDaybook Search
      • Family Court Case Search iconFamily Court Case Search
      • Bondsman Data iconBondsman Data
      • Online Juror Summons iconOnline Juror Summons
      • Expungement Case Inquiry iconExpungement Case Inquiry
      • Estates / Wills Search iconEstates / Wills Search
      • Marriage License Search iconMarriage License Search
      • Marriage License Application iconMarriage License Application
      • Magistrate Records Search iconMagistrate Records Search
      • Master-In-Equity Referral iconMaster-In-Equity Referral
      • Master-In-Equity Foreclosure Auction List iconMaster-In-Equity Foreclosure Auction List
      • Traffic Tickets Payment iconTraffic Tickets Payment
    • Property Records & Permits
      • ROD Document Search iconROD Document Search
      • ROD Day Book Search iconROD Day Book Search
      • GIS Parcel Viewer iconGIS Parcel Viewer
      • Historic Property Record Cards iconHistoric Property Record Cards
      • Apply For/Check Status Of A Building Permit iconApply For/Check Status Of A Building Permit
      • Apply for Building, Zoning & Inspections iconApply for Building, Zoning & Inspections
      • FEMA Flood Maps iconFEMA Flood Maps
    • Resources For Businesses
      • Business License Application iconBusiness License Application
      • Business License Renewal iconBusiness License Renewal
      • Contractor License Renewal iconContractor License Renewal
      • Local Accomodations Tax Application iconLocal Accomodations Tax Application
      • Current Bid Opportunities iconCurrent Bid Opportunities
    • Resources For Residents
      • Residential BiWeekly Curbside Pickup Schedule iconResidential BiWeekly Curbside Pickup Schedule
      • Dropsite and Convenience Centers Locations iconDropsite and Convenience Centers Locations
      • Public Works Work Order Request iconPublic Works Work Order Request
      • View Voting Locations  iconView Voting Locations
  • By Topic
      Topics icon
    • Taxes
    • Property & Permits
    • Courts
    • Business
    • Residents
    • Emergency
    • Law Enforcement
    • Code Enforcement
  • Departments
  • Elected Officials
      Elected Officials Icon
    • Auditor
    • Clerk Of Court
    • Coroner
    • County Council
    • Probate Judge
    • Register of Deeds (ROD)
    • Sheriff
    • Solicitor
    • Treasurer
  • Employment
      Employment Icon
    • Benefits
    • FAQs
    • Job Openings & Apply Online
    • Print Application
  • FAQs
  • About Us
      About icon
    • Mission & Values
    • Organizational Chart
    • Diversity Philosophy
    • Title VI Plan
    • Annual Report
    • Financial Reports
    • Ordinances
    • Firsts/Oldest
    • History
    • Office Locations
    • Holiday Schedule
    • Municipalities
    • School District
    • Links
    • Calendar
  • Contact
      Contact icon
    • General Contact
    • FOIA Requests
    • Media Inquiries
  • This is the main menu for CharlestonCounty.org. Please use the right side menu to access the department or section menus. The right side menu will change depending on where you are in the website.

  • Bobbi Jo O'Neal Charleston County Coroner
  • Coroner Bobbi Jo O'Neal
  • View Homepage >> View Bio >>
Charleston County, SC
  • Home
  • History
  • Interesting Facts
  • Annual Reports
    • 2021 Annual Report
    • 2020 Annual Report
    • 2019 Annual Report
    • 2018 Annual Report
    • 2017 Annual Report
    • 2016 Annual Report
    • 2015 Annual Report
    • 2014 Annual Report
    • 2013 Annual Report
  • Common Terms
  • Coroner FAQs
  • Records Request
  • Speaker Request
  • Support Groups
  • This menu is for the Coroner's Office. Use the left side menu to access the main menu for CharlestonCounty.org.

Bobbi Jo O'Neal

Coroner

Bobbi Jo O'Neal

View Bio >>

Coroner's Office

The Coroner's Office conducts independent investigations of deaths in Charleston County, serving as a representative of the decedents and survivors. The investigation's purpose is to determine the cause and manner of death and ensure that the circumstances surrounding it are thoroughly understood.

Responsibilities

  • Perform independent investigations into traumatic deaths, deaths that occur outside of hospitals and deaths that occur suddenly or unexpectedly
  • Notify families when unexpected deaths occur, such as in traffic fatalities or homicides
  • Make positive identification of individuals who have died
  • Create reports that relate to deaths investigated by the Office
  • Issue burial transit permits for individuals who have died outside of a hospital
  • Provide autopsy and Coroner's reports to agencies and next of kin
  • Make the final determination as to the manner of death
  • Release personal effects to the next of kin
  • Act as the central depository for all records relative to a death, including the Coroner's Report, Autopsy Report, police investigative reports and any other investigative agencies' reports
  • Maintain the County Coroner's Book of Inquisitions
  • Conduct inquests
  • Issue cremation permits
  • Participate as a member of the Charleston County Disaster Preparedness Team

Common Terms

Autopsy - A through external and internal examination of a deceased person which includes the dissection and examination of bone, tissue, organs and foreign objects for the purpose of determining the cause and manner of death.

Book of Inquisitions - A record of all inquests within the county, together with evidence taken before juries and all proceedings conducted before or after the Coroner's findings.

Coroner's Inquest - An official judicial inquiry before a Coroner and Coroner's Jury for the purpose of determining the manner of death.

Victim-Witness Assistance Program - A program that provides assistance to victims and witnesses by: making available information concerning their cases; supporting their rights to protection from intimidation; making referrals to medical, social, counseling and compensation services; assisting in preparation for court; and supporting families or survivors of victims.

Contact

Coroner's Office

Charleston County Perimeter Center
Map4000 Salt Pointe Parkway
North Charleston, SC 29405

Phone: (843)746-4030
Fax: (843)746-4033
Email: charlestoncoroner@charlestoncounty.org

Coroner's Facebook

Office Hours:
Mon. - Fri. 8:30am - 4:30pm

Recruiting

Forensic Pathologist Brochure

Internship Opportunities

Internships with the Charleston County Coroner’s Office are available to students who are looking to gain knowledge and experience in the area of both forensic nursing and/or medicolegal death investigation. Preferred candidates are currently enrolled in a college or university program that requires an internship for graduation.

Internship Application

Accreditations

IACME

International Association of Coroners & Medical Examiners

ABMD

American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators

Statistics

2021 Marijuana Statistics Tables

Opioid/Drug Related Deaths

  Confirmed Pending/Suspected
2020 180 0
2021 183 0
2022 206 42
2023 25 45

Suicide Deaths

  Suicide
2020 65
2021 75
2022 64
2023 16

Homicide Deaths

  Homicide
2020 62
2021 67
2022 53
2023 8

Forensic Autopsies Completed

2020 545
2021 579
2022 590
2023 143

Updated: 3/16/2023

Interesting Articles

July, 2022
Medicolegal Death Investigation Partnerships on Overdose Fatality Reviews

July 06, 2022
Charleston County Coroner Named 2022 Coroner of the Year and Elected President of the South Carolina Coroner's Association

February 23, 2022
Overdose deaths are underestimated, Charleston County coroner says at MUSC summit

November 01, 2021
Charleston County Coroner named President of Coroner's Association

October 06, 2021
2 feet that washed up on SC shores miles apart belonged to same person, coroner says

October 06, 2021
DNASolves Crime | Charleston County Coroner's Office Teams with Othram to Identify Human Remains found near Fort Sumter

June 24, 2020
After searching for a year, coroners identify body as missing James Island man.

April 6, 2020
#FEMA: Providing Financial Assistance for COVID-19-Related Funeral Expenses

December 11, 2019
Charleston County coroner releases new images in attempt to identify man found in Cooper River

December 01, 2019
Charleston County coroners search for identity of man found in water off Remley's Point

May 01, 2016
Science, art may help solve decade-old mystery of floating skull

February 23, 2015
Charleston County Coroner's Office Accreditation

News Releases

October 22, 2022
Charleston County Coroner's Office receives grant related to opioid deaths.

October 06, 2022
Coroner O'Neal comments on IACME joining the CFSO

September 12, 2022
Charleston County Coroner’s Office Receives Emergency Preparedness Grant

December 08, 2021
Charleston County Coroner Sworn in as President of Coroner’s Association

December 08, 2021
Charleston County Coroner’s Office Receives Grant Related to Opioid Deaths

History

The King of England appointed the first Coroner of South Carolina by relocating him from England to Charleston. Until 1706, the only Coroner in the colony lived in Charleston. Beginning in 1785, Justices of the County Court selected the Coroners who were commissioned by the Governor for two-year terms. Since 1868, and in accordance with the S.C. Constitution, each of the state's 46 counties have elected a Coroner to four-year terms.

Interesting Facts

  • There are 266 Board Certified Medicolegal Death Investigators in the United States. Seven are in South Carolina and of those, four are in the Charleston County Coroner's Office. They are: Bobbi Jo O’Neal, Brittney Martin, Dottie Lindsay and Anita Hasert.
  • This Office offers prevention programs for schools. Topics include drinking and driving, weapons awareness and alcohol and drug abuse.
  • This Office sponsors programs in the medical community promoting prevention of infants' and children's deaths.
  • The Coroner's Books of Inquisitions contains records dating back to the early 1900's.
  • Coroner Bobbi Jo O'Neal was awarded the Sue Townsend Award in 2016 by the South Carolina Coroner's Association.
  • Morgue and Autopsy Coordinator, Elizabeth Dobbins, was selected as the 2019 Charleston County Employee of the Year.
  • Evidence Technician, Nancy Ritter-Peacock, was selected as the 2020 Charleston County Employee of the Year.
  • Supervising Deputy Coroner Kimberly Rhoton was nominated for the 2021 South Carolina Coroner's Association's Deputy Coroner of the Year.
  • Coroner Bobbi Jo O'Neal was awarded the 2022 Coroner of the Year by the South Carolina Coroner's Association.
  • Coroner Bobbi Jo O'Neal was elected President of the South Carolina Coroner's Association (2022-2024)
  • Chief Deputy Coroner Brittney Martin was nominated for the 2022 South Carolina Coroner's Association Sue Townsend Award.
  • Supervisor of Forensic Services, Kelly Gallagher, was named the Charleston County Supervisor of the Quarter for April-June 2022.

Municipalities

City of Charleston
City of Folly Beach
City of North Charleston
City of Isle of Palms
Town of Awendaw
Town of Hollywood
Town of James Island
Town of Kiawah Island
Town of Lincolnville
Town of McClellanville
Town of Meggett
Town of Mount Pleasant
Town of Ravenel
Town of Rockville
Town of Seabrook Island
Town of Sullivan's Island

Go to top

Additional Resources

Arts & Entertainment
CARTA Transit System
County Library
County Parks
Transportation Sales Tax
School District
Charleston Community Guide

Sex Offenders Search
Identity Theft Info
Traffic Cam
Make-A-Wish Car Donation
United Way 24hr hotline
Visitor Information

Employee Resources

Employee Online
Go to top

Social Media

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Vimeo
Instagram
Linkedin

Site Translation

Go to top

E-mail your comments or questions about this site to publicinfo@charlestoncounty.org
Report technical problems with this site to webmaster@charlestoncounty.org

This is the official web site for Charleston County Government.
Copyright © 2000-2023, Charleston County, South Carolina. All rights reserved.
Legal Disclaimer | Refund Disclaimer | Privacy Policy

Fixed footer :-)