2026 Annual Conference – Day #1
Posted By: Alex Hill
April 21, 2026 |
Announcements
Registration is open!
A full house!
The Kentucky Coroners Association was proud to take a moment during our Annual Conference to recognize two outstanding leaders for their continued support of Kentucky’s coroners and the important work we do across the Commonwealth.
We extend our sincere appreciation to Senator Matt Deneen and Representative Steve Bratcher for their dedication and advocacy during this past legislative session, particularly their support of House Bill 138.
Their commitment to strengthening the coroner system in Kentucky and working toward a more standardized and sustainable future for our offices does not go unnoticed. We are grateful for their leadership, their willingness to listen, and their partnership in advancing legislation that supports coroners and the communities we serve.
On behalf of the Kentucky Coroners Association, thank you both for standing with us and for your continued support.
Pictured from left to right – Farris Marcum, Lincoln County Coroner – Pat Elmore, Hardin County Coroner – Senator Matt Deneen – Rep. Steve Bratcher – Gary Ginn, Fayette County Coroner.
The 2026 Annual Conference is officially underway!
Jeff Jones, President of the Kentucky Coroners Association, and Daviess County Coroner, kicked things off by welcoming coroners and deputies from across the Commonwealth.
Looking forward to a great few days of training, networking, and time spent together with folks from all over Kentucky.
We’re looking forward to an informative session on drugs of abuse from Joshua Shaffer with the Knoxville Police Department – TN.
Lt. Shaffer brings decades of law enforcement experience, currently serving as Task Force Commander for the Appalachia HIDTA Drug Related Death Task Force and overseeing organized crime investigations. His background in drug distribution trends, gang activity, and courtroom testimony makes this a valuable session for coroners and deputies across the Commonwealth.
Appreciate him sharing his time and expertise with the Kentucky Coroners Association this week.
Dr. Bill Ralston, Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, welcomed attendees to this year’s annual conference.
His continued support and leadership remain invaluable to our profession, and we’re grateful for his partnership in advancing medicolegal death investigation across the state.
We’re glad to have the team from Axis Forensic Toxicology with us at this year’s conference.
Laureen J. Marinetti, Stuart A. K. Kurtz, and Kevin Shanks brought a full lineup of presentations focused on forensic toxicology, including specimen collection, screening vs. confirmation testing, drug trends, emerging substances, and how to interpret toxicology results in real-world cases.
Their sessions provided practica
l, real-world insight that coroners and deputies can take back and apply in the field every day.
We appreciate them sharing their knowledge and helping strengthen medicolegal death investigations across Kentucky.
