Jefferson County deaths

Jefferson County deaths include the deaths of all persons in Jefferson County. Reporting of death statistics is the responsibility of the Alabama Department of Public Health's Alabama Center for Health Statistics.

By law, whenever there is suspicion that a death was caused by violence, neglect, suspicious or unusual circumstances, in police or state custody, or in connection with a public health hazard, the Jefferson County Coroner is responsible for investigating and reporting the cause. In practice, that amounts to approximately one third of all deaths in the county, with the others accounted for by medical certificates or obvious causes, including accidents. The Coroner's office issues an annual report of statistics relating to the cases it has examined.

Deaths by year

2021

6,753 deaths were reported to the Jefferson County Medical Examiner's Office, of which jurisdiction was assumed for 1,228 cases.

Of those the coroner ruled 581 to have been the result of fatal accidents; 216 to have been homicides; 308 to have resulted from natural causes; 94 to have been suicides, and 1 a still birth. The cause of 28 examined deaths could not be determined. In 8 cases, remains brought to the morgue were determined to be from animals rather than humans.

398 of the 581 accidental deaths resulted from the use of drugs or alcohol. Of those, 342 involved illicit opioids. 129 accidental deaths investigated were caused by vehicle collisions, including 8 by train. 34 of those killed were pedestrians, and 2 were bicyclists. 14 people died in home fires and 1 died from accidental gunshot injuries. Falls were implicated in 20 deaths, drowning in 4, and hypothermia in 2. Two more deaths resulted from electrocution by power lines.

Of the 216 homicides investigated, 199 were caused by gunshot wounds; 7 by stabbing; 6 by blunt force; and 4 by strangulation. Of the 94 reported suicides, 68 were by gunshot; 14 by hanging; 2 by intentional overdose; 5 by asphyxia, 4 by jumping from height or in front of a train, and 1 by knife.

Of the 308 deaths examined by the coroner and ruled to have resulted from "natural causes", 183 resulted from heart failure or disease; 36 from chronic substance abuse; 25 from lung disease, pulmonary embolism or pneumonia; 7 from malignancies; and 12 from diabetic shock.

2020

The Center for Health Statistics counted 6,432 deaths county-wide in 2020, an increase of 34.9% over the total reported in 2019, a jump at least partly attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, though only 114 deaths were confirmed to have been caused by the disease. Of those, 1,396 were caused by heart disease; 1,409 were caused by cancer; 481 by stroke; 341 by Alzheimer's; 296 by chronic lung diseases; 151 by diabetes; 139 by pneumonia or influenza; 139 by homicide; 120 by motor vehicle accidents; 84 by suicide; and 23 by HIV/AIDS.

6,432 deaths were reported to the Jefferson County Medical Examiner's Office, of which 5,111 were investigated. The JCMEO declined jurisdiction for all but 1,142.

Of those 1,142, the coroner ruled 490 to have been the result of fatal accidents; 187 to have been caused by homicide; 349 to have resulted from natural causes; and 94 to have been suicides. The cause of 22 examined deaths could not be determined.

298 of the 490 accidental deaths resulted from the use of drugs or alcohol. Of those, 236 involved illicit opioids. 126 accidental deaths investigated were caused by vehicle collisions, including 1 by train. 33 of those killed were pedestrians, and 3 were bicyclists. 16 people died in home fires and 2 died from accidental gunshot injuries.

Of the 187 homicides investigated, 162 were caused by gunshot wounds; 9 by stabbing; 9 by blunt force; and 2 by strangulation. Of the 94 reported suicides, 68 were by gunshot; 20 by hanging; 2 by intentional overdose; and 2 by asphyxia.

Of the 349 deaths examined by the coroner and ruled to have resulted from "natural causes", 196 resulted from heart failure or disease; 41 from chronic substance abuse; 31 from lung disease, pulmonary embolism or pneumonia; 12 from malignancies; and 12 from diabetic shock.

2019

The Center for Health Statistics counted 7,233 deaths county-wide in 2020. Of those, 2,142 were caused by major cardiovascular diseases; 1,334 were caused by cancer; 501 by cerebrovascular disease; 267 by Alzheimer's; 345 by chronic lung diseases; 180 from sepsis; 140 by diabetes; 139 by pneumonia or influenza; 162 by homicide; 123 from kidney disease; 110 by motor vehicle accidents; 102 by suicide; 89 from malnutrition, 74 from liver disease; and 23 by HIV/AIDS.

4,768 of those deaths were investigated by the Coroner's office, which declined jurisdiction for all but 956. Of those, the coroner ruled 401 to have been the result of fatal accidents; 171 to have been caused by homicide; 270 to have resulted from natural causes; and 97 to have been suicides. The cause of 14 examined deaths could not be determined.

223 of the 401 accidental deaths resulted from the use of drugs or alcohol. Of those, 173 involved illicit opioids. 108 accidental deaths investigated were caused by vehicle collisions, including three by train. 20 of those killed were pedestrians, and 2 were bicyclists. 15 people died in home fires, 11 died by drowning, and 1 died from an accidental gunshot injury.

Of the 171 homicides investigated, 151 were caused by gunshot wounds; 5 by stabbing; 8 by blunt force; and 4 by strangulation. Of the 97 reported suicides, 65 were by gunshot; 16 by hanging; 6 by intentionally overdosing; 3 by jumping from height; and 4 by cutting, including one chainsaw suicide.

Of the 349 deaths examined by the coroner and ruled to have resulted from "natural causes", 152 resulted from heart failure or disease; 39 from chronic substance abuse; 23 from lung disease, pulmonary embolism or pneumonia; 12 from malignancies; and 3 from diabetic shock.

2016

The Center for Health Statistics counted 7,125 deaths county-wide in 2016. Of those, 1,396 were caused by heart disease; 1,409 were caused by cancer; 481 by stroke; 341 by Alzheimer's; 296 by chronic lung diseases; 151 by diabetes; 139 by pneumonia or influenza; 139 by homicide; 120 by motor vehicle accidents; 84 by suicide; and 23 by HIV/AIDS.

2,728 of those deaths were investigated by the Coroner's office, which declined jurisdiction for all but 924. Of those, the coroner ruled 436 to have been the result of fatal accidents; 152 to have been caused by homicide; 238 to have resulted from natural causes; and 76 to have been suicides. The cause of 19 examined deaths could not be determined.

244 of the 436 accidental deaths resulted from the use of drugs or aerosols. Of those, 174 involved illicit drugs; 22 involved prescribed opioids, 43 involved other prescription medication; and 5 were the result of alcohol poisoning. 122 accidental deaths investigated were caused by motor vehicle collisions, including three by train. 19 of those killed were pedestrians, and 1 was bicycling. Fifteen people died in home fires.

Of the 152 homicides investigated, 131 were caused by gunshot wounds; 7 by stabbing; 5 by blunt force; and 4 by strangulation. Two children were found to have been killed from overexertion as punishment. Of the 84 reported suicides, 55 were by gunshot; 11 by hanging; 5 by intentionally overdosing; 3 by jumping, and 1 by carbon monoxide inhalation.

Of the 238 deaths examined by the coroner and ruled to have resulted from "natural causes", 134 resulted from heart failure or disease; 23 from chronic alcohol or drug abuse; 11 from cancers; and 4 from diabetic shock.

2015

The Center for Health Statistics counted 7,173 deaths county-wide in 2015. Of those, 1,507 were caused by heart disease; 1,384 were caused by cancer; 489 by stroke; 338 by Alzheimer's; 329 by chronic lung diseases; 169 by diabetes; 158 by pneumonia or influenza; 130 by homicide; 106 by motor vehicle accidents; 95 by suicide; 69 by liver disease; 55 from hypertension; and 32 by HIV/AIDS.

2,409 of those deaths were investigated by the Coroner's office, which declined jurisdiction for all but 906. Of those, the coroner ruled 370 to have been the result of fatal accidents; 143 to have been caused by homicide; 268 to have resulted from natural causes; and 95 to have been suicides. The cause of 30 examined deaths could not be determined.

219 of the 370 accidental deaths resulted from the use of drugs or aerosols. Of those, 131 involved illicit drugs; 73 involved prescribed opioids, 10 involved other prescription medication; and 5 were the result of alcohol poisoning. 108 accidental deaths investigated were caused by motor vehicle collisions, including three by train. 24 of those killed were pedestrians, and none were bicycling. Twelve deaths of infants were associated with "co-sleeping," but not directly attributable to a cause.

Of the 143 homicides investigated, 126 were caused by gunshot wounds; 7 by blunt force; 7 by stabbing; and 2 by strangulation. Of the 95 reported suicides, 60 were by gunshot; 18 by hanging; 7 by intentionally overdosing; 5 by carbon monoxide inhalation and 1 by drowning.

Of the 268 deaths examined by the coroner and ruled to have resulted from "natural causes", 154 resulted from heart failure or disease; 22 from chronic alcohol or drug abuse; 10 from cancers; 6 from diabetic shock and 5 from epileptic seizures.

External links

• Alabama Center for Health Statistics website
• Jefferson County Coroner's Office annual reports