Cape Girardeau County, Missouri – A coroner who previously admitted to neglecting COVID-19 deaths and not conducting proper investigations was charged with theft and falsifying death certificates. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed three felony charges and one misdemeanor against Wavis Jordan, the embattled coroner. Following the charges, Jordan was barred from official duties, and the county sheriff took over his responsibilities.
Bailey stated, “As Attorney General, I will always work to hold accountable those who refuse to do their job as required by Missouri statute.” Jordan, who is Black, claimed the charges were unjust, citing racial issues. The charges come after complaints about Jordan’s handling of cases, including inaccuracies on death certificates and failure to investigate true causes of death.
If convicted, Jordan faces up to 12 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Additionally, a petition has been filed to remove him from office, with a judge appointing a temporary replacement. Jordan, a Republican elected in 2020, had no prior experience in handling the deceased before assuming the role of coroner.
In one case, Jordan was accused of stealing from a deceased person’s possessions and returning a wallet without the cash. He also allegedly listed inaccurate causes of death on several death certificates, including cases of suspected suicides that were marked as heart attacks. The charges against Jordan follow a trend of complaints and concerns regarding his work in Cape Girardeau County.
The Cape Girardeau County Commission received complaints about Jordan’s handling of cases, prompting them to consider replacing his office with a contracted medical examiner. However, no viable proposals were submitted for the contract. The charges against Jordan were filed just before the upcoming filing period for state and county offices this year, where he was intending to run for reelection.
The allegations against Jordan reflect a larger issue of inaccuracies in death certificates, with concerns raised about the proper investigation and recording of deaths across the U.S. The impact of misreported deaths, including COVID-19 related fatalities, has led to distorted mortality figures. The case of Wavis Jordan highlights the importance of accountability and competence in handling sensitive matters such as death investigations.