Pathologist takes office
Robert Deters has been serving as the new forensic pathologist at the Canyon County Coroner’s Office since Oct. 1.Greg Kreller/IPT
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bdooley@idahopress.com
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
CANYON COUNTY — An in-house forensic pathologist employed by Canyon County will save the county money and allow full utilization of the county's new forensic complex, Canyon County Coroner Vicki DeGeus-Morris says.
Dr. Robert Deters took the position in October.
"We are making full use of the county morgue, which is what it was designed for, and we are not having to transport bodies to Ada County, which obviously saves us money on gas," DeGeus-Morris said.
"The bottom line is, it's going to save us a lot of money," she added, although she said she could not yet offer an estimate.
Deters relocated from Park City, Utah, for the job, and most recently worked in the office of the Utah State Medical Examiner.
"I am absolutely delighted with the community," Deters said.
Prior to his position with the state of Utah, Deters worked in private practice for about 20 years. He studied and completed his residency at the University of Colorado and completed a fellowship with the Denver coroner's office.
He is triple board certified in anatomic, clinical and forensic pathology.
Canyon County had not employed its own forensic pathologist since 2008.
In May 2008, the county signed a contract with Ada County to provide pathology services. DeGeus-Morris objected to the contract, saying prosecutors had negotiated behind her back and rushed her to sign it after she returned from a vacation.
She argued the contract overestimated the county's needs, cost too much and duplicated services her department could perform at the county's new $1.4 million forensics complex, completed early this year and named for retired criminalist Gary L. John.
Officials renegotiated the contract in October 2008 to more accurately reflect Canyon County's needs, reducing the monthly cost from $14,000 to $9,500. That contract expired July 1, and the county received assistance from a local doctor until Deters was hired.
