Wayne County Coroner: About

The Wayne County Coroner’s Office exists to serve our community with professionalism, compassion, and integrity in the investigation of deaths that occur within our jurisdiction. Guided by our mission, “Serving with Integrity, and compassion at every scene, every time,” we ensure that every investigation is handled with care, accuracy, and dignity for the deceased and their families.

In Indiana, coroners are elected constitutional officers whose responsibilities go far beyond determining cause and manner of death. As both medicolegal investigators and public servants, coroners work closely with law enforcement, healthcare providers, prosecutors, and grieving families to uncover the truth, support justice, and provide answers during times of great uncertainty. The role has deep roots in Indiana law, with statutory authority that includes conducting inquests, ordering autopsies, and certifying deaths.

The Wayne County Coroner’s Office is committed to:

Conducting thorough, unbiased, and legally sound death investigations
Protecting the dignity of the deceased and the well-being of surviving families
Promoting open communication within the medical, legal, and public safety communities
Supporting public health and prevention efforts through data and education
Being a compassionate presence during some of life’s hardest moments

Our team is made up of dedicated professionals who are not only trained in forensic investigation but deeply rooted in the community we serve. We recognize that behind every case is a life, and behind every life, a story that matters.

Our Staff

Coroner R. Brent Meadows

Meet Coroner R. Brent Meadows

R. Brent Meadows serves as the Wayne County Coroner with a deep commitment to compassion, professionalism, and service in the moments that matter most.

Born and raised in Wayne County, Brent’s path to public service began early after stopping to help at the scene of a car accident as a teenager, he was encouraged by a local ambulance provider to pursue official emergency medical training. That experience changed the course of his life.

Though originally a music major, Brent ultimately earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana Wesleyan University and went on to become a career paramedic. Over the years, he has trained thousands of first responders across Indiana and beyond, including members of local fire and police departments, the Indiana State Police, and the FBI. He has served as a national consultant in Mass Casualty Planning and BioTerrorism, and has held leadership roles at IU Health Methodist Hospital, Reid Health, Care Ambulance Services, and other emergency service organizations.

Today, as Coroner, Brent leads with the same principle that has guided his entire career: that grief must be met with dignity, and loss must be handled with integrity and empathy. Whether responding to a family’s worst day or working to ensure accuracy and transparency in every investigation, he brings decades of experience and a servant’s heart to the role.

Wayne County is more than where he works, it’s home. And Brent Meadows is honored to serve it, every scene, every time.

Chief Deputy Dillon Pitcher

Meet Chief Deputy Dillon Pitcher

For nearly two decades, Chief Deputy Dillon Pitcher has dedicated his life to serving the people of Wayne County. His commitment to public safety and compassionate service began at just 14 years old as a cadet with the Sheriff’s Office, a start that sparked a lifelong calling.

By the time he was 19, Dillon was already working as a 9-1-1 dispatcher and had joined the Wayne County Coroner’s Office as a Deputy Coroner. Since then, he has served in nearly every corner of local public safety, from the dispatch center to the patrol car to the front lines of death investigation. As a law enforcement officer, he has proudly held the ranks of Corporal, Sergeant, and Detective/Case Manager.

Dillon is a graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, a certified Medicolegal Death Investigator, Criminal Investigator, and Instructor through the Department of Homeland Security. He has also earned federal certification in threat assessment and threat management for schools and community safety. Academically, he graduated with honors from Eastern Gateway Community College with an associate’s degree in criminal justice.

Through every scene, every shift, and every loss, Dillon leads with a steady presence and a servant’s heart. He understands that the role of the Coroner’s Office is not just about investigations, it’s about compassion, respect, and helping families find clarity during the hardest days of their lives.

Above all, Dillon is proud to call Wayne County home. He is a husband, a father of three, a small business owner, and someone who has spent more than half his life working to protect and serve the very place that raised him.

James Jones, MDI