2016
Annual Report Office of the
Chief Medical Examiner
State of Maryland
Table of Contents Cases Reported to OCME
Action Taken ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 1
Autopsied ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
Manner of Death ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Manner of Death
Classified by Sex ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Classified by Race .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Medical Examiner Cases
Cause and Manner of Death .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
A Three-Year Comparison ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7
Manner and Jurisdiction .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Toxicologic Testing
Percentage of Cases Positive for Alcohol and/or Drugs ........................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Drug Abuse Death
By Jurisdiction (3-Year Comparison) ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Undetermined Manner Only ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 11
Homicide Deaths
Cause of Death ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
A Five-Year Comparison......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Deaths by Age ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 14
Firearm Deaths
A Five-Year Comparison......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
A Five-Year Comparison......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Classified by Age .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Classified by Race and Sex ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Sudden Unexplained Death in Infancy
Classified by Age .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Classified by Race and Sex ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Suicide Death
Cause of Death ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Youth Suicides ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20
Deaths by Age ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 21
Transportation Deaths
Classified by Activity .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 22
Type of Vehicle ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Classified by Age .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Alcohol/Drug Results ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 25
Alcohol Levels in Cases Testing Positive ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 26
Addendum
Miscellaneous Data ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27
- 1 -
2016 Cases Reported to OCME - Action Taken Total Cases – 14,301
1553
5311
6147
942
348
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
Approval Autopsy Declined Field Inspection Inspection at OCME
- 2 -
2016 Medical Examiner Cases Total Cases Autopsied* – 5,659
*Twelve cases were classified as “not applicable” (e.g. stillborn & non-human remains).
**Four homicides were not autopsied.
Accident, 1309, 23%
Homicide, 595, 11%
Natural, 1679, 30%
Not Applicable, 12, 0%
Suicide, 454, 8%
Undetermined, 1610, 28%
- 3 -
2016 Cases Reported to OCME – Manner of Death Total Cases – 14,301
*Undetermined Manner: Drugs/Narcotics ** Undetermined Manner: Other
525
1857
599
9048
586
1522
164
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
- 4 -
2016 Manner of Death – Classified By Sex and Race
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
Accident
Homicide
Natural
Suicide
Und. Drugs*
Und. Other*
Accident Homicide Natural Suicide Und. Drugs* Und. Other*Female 881 90 3950 117 419 50Male 1501 509 5095 469 1100 85Unknown 3 3 29
Classified by Sex
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
Accident
Homicide
Natural
Suicide
Und. Drugs*
Und. Other*
Accident Homicide Natural Suicide Und. Drugs* Und. Other*African American 621 496 3570 89 488 59Asian 34 3 134 24 9 4Hispanic 95 25 156 20 29 6Other 27 3 98 9 14 4Unknown 8 1 4 27White 1605 72 5082 443 978 64
Classified by Race
*Undetermined Manner: Drugs/Narcotics ** Undetermined Manner: Other
- 5 -
Manner of Death
Cause of Death Accident Homicide Natural
Not Applicable Suicide
Undeter- mined Total
Asphyxiation 100 7 5 119 27 258 Airway obstruction/Aspirated stomach content 9 5 14 Drowning 64 8 19 91 Hanging 2 97 2 101 Smoke inhalation 6 3 4 13 Strangulation/Asphyxiation 19 7 11 2 39
Chemical/Drug/Alcohol Intoxication/Abuse/Use 498 2 95 71 1480 2146
Alcohol abuse/use 2 64 2 68 Alcohol and drug intoxication/use 11 1 7 5 24 Alcohol intoxication/use 19 3 22 Carbon monoxide 3 8 1 12 Cocaine and alcohol intoxication/use 7 1 4 12 Cocaine intoxication/use 30 7 18 55 Drug intoxication/abuse/use 37 1 11 36 67 152 Narcotic abuse/use 2 2 Narcotic and alcohol intoxication/use 107 1 4 381 493 Narcotic intoxication/use 282 1 8 16 999 1306
Circulatory system 28 2 1274 2 1306 Aneurysm 1 6 7 Cardiac arrhythmia 1 64 65 Cardiomyopathy 19 19 Cardiovascular disease 5 2 1013 1020 Cerebrovascular disease 3 29 32 Hemorrhage 6 17 1 24 Other cardiac 3 82 1 86 Pulmonary embolism 9 44 53
Congenital / Perinatal 5 4 35 44 Congenital/Perinatal 3 4 7 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome 2 2 Sudden Unexplained Death in Infancy (SUDI) 35 35
Digestive system disease 1 31 1 33 Cirrhosis 1 7 8 Gastrointestinal hemorrhage 19 19 Other digestive 4 1 5 Fatty liver 1 1
Electrocution 4 4 Electrocution 4 4
Endocrine and metabolic disease 64 1 65 Diabetes 52 1 53 Other Endocrine and metabolic 12 12
Hyperthermia 22 2 24 Hyperthermia 22 2 24
Hypothermia 32 32 Hypothermia 32 32
Infectious disease 3 18 21 Other infectious disease 3 18 21
- 6 -
Manner of Death
Cause of Death Accident Homicide Natural Not Applicable Suicide
Undeter- mined Total
Malignant neoplasms (Cancer) 16 16 Malignant neoplasms (Cancer) 16 16
Nervous system disease 3 23 3 29 Meningitis 3 3 Other CNS 1 5 2 8 Seizure disorder 2 15 1 18
Non-human remains 2 2 Non-human remains 2 2
Other natural cause 89 89 Other natural cause 89 89
Other non-natural cause 56 3 6 12 77 Other non-natural cause 56 3 6 12 77
Respiratory system 4 59 1 64 Asthma 10 10 Chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease 6 6 Other respiratory 9 9 Pneumonia 3 33 1 37 Anaphylaxis 1 1 2
Thermal Injuries (Burns) 29 2 1 8 40 Thermal Injuries (Burns) 29 2 1 8 40
Traumatic injury 529 579 251 19 1378 Blunt force 42 25 1 68 Fracture 12 12 Gunshot wound 3 455 211 1 670 Head/Chest injuries 74 9 1 7 91 Multiple injuries 377 26 27 9 439 Other trauma 20 1 1 1 23 Sharp force/cutting 1 63 11 75
Unknown cause 31 31 Unknown cause 31 31
Grand Total 1309 595 1679 12 454 1610 5659
- 7 -
Manner of Death - 3 Year Comparison
2016
Manner of Death Number % Accident 2382 16.7% Homicide 599 4.2% Natural 9048 63.3% Suicide 586 4.1% Undetermined 1686 11.8% Total 14301 100%
2015
Manner of Death Number % Accident 2037 16.4% Homicide 606 4.9% Natural 8135 65.4% Suicide 557 4.5% Undetermined 1110 8.9% Total 12445 100%
2014
Manner of Death Number % Accident 1810 16.3% Homicide 415 3.7% Natural 7307 65.8% Suicide 596 5.4% Undetermined 979 8.8% Total 11107 100%
- 8 -
2016 Manner of Death by County 2016 - Manner Accident Homicide Natural Suicide Undetermined Total
Allegany 32 6 40 9 50 137 Anne Arundel 123 24 148 41 142 478 Baltimore City 325 349 424 66 569 1733 Baltimore County 156 24 200 46 228 654 Calvert 20 1 30 11 19 81 Caroline 10 5 1 5 21 Carroll 33 2 38 18 38 129 Cecil 32 5 30 12 27 106 Charles 38 4 35 16 31 124 Dorchester 9 2 16 6 5 38 Frederick 53 34 26 62 175 Garrett 12 5 6 1 24 Harford 52 7 64 19 64 206 Howard 33 5 43 19 37 137 Kent 8 1 6 3 4 22 Montgomery 88 13 147 59 85 392 Out-Of-State 1 1 2 Prince George's 136 135 217 42 111 641 Queen Anne's 13 12 6 4 35 Saint Mary's 20 2 23 4 13 62 Somerset 5 7 3 4 19 Talbot 7 14 5 8 34 Washington 40 4 54 17 57 172 Wicomico 32 8 51 9 42 142 Worcester 32 3 35 9 16 95 Grand Total 1309 595 1679 454 1622 5659 2016 - Case Type Autopsy OCME Insp. Total County Autopsy OCME Insp. Total
Allegany 130 7 137 Washington 168 4 172
Anne Arundel 451 27 478 Wicomico 134 8 142 Baltimore City 1623 110 1733 Worcester 93 2 95 Baltimore County 606 48 654 Out-Of-State 1 1 2 Calvert 73 8 81 Grand Total 5311 348 5659 Caroline 21 21
Carroll 117 12 129 Cecil 100 6 106 Charles 118 6 124 Dorchester 35 3 38 Frederick 164 11 175 Garrett 20 4 24 Harford 199 7 206 Howard 129 8 137 Kent 21 1 22 Montgomery 359 33 392 Prince George's 613 28 641 Queen Anne's 31 4 35 Saint Mary's 61 1 62 Somerset 16 3 19 Talbot 28 6 34
- 9 -
2016 Toxicology Testing # of Cases Positive for Alcohol and/or Drugs
(Percentage of the Manner of Death)
437 (33%)
134 (23%) 163 (36%)
522 (40%)
172 (29%) 186 (41%)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Accidents (1309) Homicides (595) Suicides (454)
Manner of Death
AlcoholDrugs
- 10 -
Drug Deaths
3 Year Comparison by Jurisdiction 2014-2016
31
52
140
13
18
9
9
159
130
9
52
97
4
97
8
49
36
55
8
33
336
773
216
61
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
Worcester
Wicomico
Washington
Talbot
St. Mary's
Somerset
Queen Anne's
Prince George's
Montgomery
Kent
Howard
Harford
Garrett
Frederick
Dorchester
Charles
Cecil
Carroll
Caroline
Calvert
Baltimore County
Baltimore City
Anne Arundel
Allegany
2016
2015
2014
- 11 -
36 34 3 64
1 1
331 402
910
25 20
1113
34 23 15 0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
2016 Drug Deaths Undetermined Manner
- 12 -
0 100 200 300 400 500
Strangulation/Suffication
Sharp Force
Other
Head/Multiple Injuries
Firearms
Blunt Force
5
58
9
55
457
12
Total Deaths - 599
2016 Homicide Deaths Cause of Death
- 13 -
431 434 414
606 599
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Num
ber o
f Cas
es
Homicides 5 Year Comparison
2012 - 2016
- 14 -
0 50 100 150
0-14
15-20
21-25
26-30
31-35
36-40
41-45
46-50
51-55
56-60
61-65
66-70
71-75
76-80
Over 80
24
98
143 87
63
41
56
25
13
17 11
5
6
4
6
Total Deaths - 599
Age
Gro
up
2016 Homicide Deaths by Age
- 15 -
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
Accident Homicide Suicide Undetermined2012 2 320 271 22013 5 310 265 22014 1 282 274 22015 1 465 214 32016 5 457 252 1
Firearm Deaths 2012 - 2016
- 16 -
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
2
7
2
9
2
SIDS Deaths 2012 - 2016 Comparison
- 17 -
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome – 2016
Total of 2 Deaths
00.20.40.60.8
11.21.41.61.8
2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Num
ber o
f Cas
es
Age in Months
Classified by Age
Female, 1, 50%
Male, 1, 50%
Classified by Sex
African American,
1, 50%
White, 1, 50%
Classified by Race
- 18 -
Sudden Unexplained Death in Infancy – 2016 Total of 35 Deaths
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
7
8
6
4
3
1 1
0
4
1
Num
ber o
f Cas
es
Age in Months
Classified by Age
Female, 18, 51%
Male, 17, 49%
Classified by Sex
African American,
20, 57%
Asian, 1, 3%
Hispanic, 1, 3%
Other, 2, 6%
White, 11, 31%
Classified by Race
- 19 -
2016 Suicide Deaths
19
40
144
252
71
8
9
12
31
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Other
Multiple Injuries
Hanging
Firearms
Drugs Only
Drowning
Cutting/Stab Wounds
Carbon Monoxide
Asphyxia
Total Cases - 586
Classified by Cause of Death
21
13
5 7 8 7
1
16
11
23 22
2
0
5
10
15
20
25
Suicide Drug Classification
- 20 -
2016 Youth Suicide Deaths
1
5
1
5 5
8
6
11
5
11
6
8
11
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Age Total Cases - 83
25 Years of Age and Under
- 21 -
0 20 40 60 80
9-2021-2526-3031-3536-4041-4546-5051-5556-6061-6566-7071-7576-80
Over 80
43 46
41 42
46 45
69 55
67 37
23 23
15 34
Total Deaths - 586
2016 Suicide Deaths by Age
- 22 -
Total Cases – 554
17
3
121
17
39
334
23
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
Rear Passenger
Pilot
Pedestrian
Passenger
Front Passenger
Driver
Bicyclist
2016 Transportation Accidents Classified by Activity
- 23 -
18
165
3
2
52
32
181
16
57
5
2
2
1
8
7
3
0 50 100 150 200
Van
Unknown
Train- Passenger
Train - Freight
SUV
Pickup Truck
Passenger Car
Other Truck
Motorcycle
Motorbike
Farm Vehicle
Bus
Boat
Bicycle
ATV
Aircraft
Total Cases - 554
2016 Transportation Deaths Type of Vehicle
- 24 -
0 20 40 60 80
0-5 6-10
11-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 56-60 61-65 66-70 71-75 76-80 80-85
Over 85
6 5
4 54
64 51
48 33
36 47
40
41 35
33 27
11 16
3
Total Cases - 554
2016 Transportation Deaths by Age
- 25 -
The alcohol and drug tests are not mutually exclusive, so the numbers in parentheses may not add up to the numbers on the bar graphs. For example, a bicyclist may be positive for both alcohol and drugs.
3
101
17
6
42
0 2 8
170
20
9
65
0 3 12
115
17 7
44
3 13
3
49
2 1
12
0 1 0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Bicyclist (23) Driver (334) Front Passenger(39)
Passenger (17) Pedestrian (121) Pilot (3) Rear Passenger(17)
2016 Transportation Accidents Alcohol/Drug Results
Alcohol Positive Drugs Positive Alcohol & Drugs Negative No Tests Performed
554 Transportation Deaths
- 26 -
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
.01-.05
.06-.09
.10-.15
.16-.19
.20-.25
.26-.29
.30-.35
.36-.39
.40+
32 (19%)
18 (11%)
38 (22%)
23 (13%)
34 (20%)
19 (11%)
3 (2%)
2 (1%) 2 (1%)
554 Transportation Deaths 315 Negative for Alcohol 68 No Testing Performed
2016 Transportation Deaths Blood Alcohol Concentration in 171 Cases
35%* Tested Positive
*Percent based on total cases tested for alcohol
- 27 -
ADDENDUM
Miscellaneous Data 1. Number of autopsies 3,799
Number of partial autopsies 1,512 2. Organ donations 124 3. Unclaimed bodies released to State Anatomy Board 286 4. Exhumations 1 5. Bodies transported to the OCME 5,642