Lake County Coroner Richard Keller Under Investigation

Well, that vacation idea didn't last long. Reader Jim Moran led me to this Tribune article about Lake County Coroner Richard Keller being under investigation for a recent death due to a drug prescribed by Keller, who then subsequently investigated the death:

The Lake County state's attorney's office is investigating a methadone-related death after learning that the county's coroner, Dr. Richard Keller, prescribed the drug to the victim at a Waukegan clinic, where Keller is medical director.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is participating in the county investigation, which includes a review of whether Keller and clinic staff followed proper procedures in administering methadone, commonly used to treat heroin addiction, DEA Special Agent Will Taylor said.And a state agency has faulted the clinic for not reporting the death, as required.

Steve Vaughn, 30, of Lindenhurst died Dec. 3, hours after he was administered 70 milligrams of methadone at the Green Dragonfly clinic during his second day of treatment, Keller said.

"We are looking at all of the facts and circumstances regarding Steve Vaughn's situation ... and whether or not the rules and regulations that deal with methadone clinics were followed," State's Atty. Michael Waller said Wednesday.

Waller questioned why Keller as coroner investigated his own patient's death, a potential conflict of interest because the coroner typically determines if any foul play was involved with an unnatural death.

That was probably a bigger snip than I should have used, but the Trib will forgive me since I'm posting from my secret vacation location today.

TA readers will recall that we strongly suspected that there was more to Keller's recent announcement that he would not run for re-election than his stated reason that he didn't want to put up with fundraising and was tired of the political nature of the coroner's office. Well, if you were wondering who the 'dead man' was whom we referred to in that post, as Paul Harvey would say, now you know the rest of the story...

Keller, of course, claims this is all a political put-up job:

Keller said he thought the state's attorney's inquiry was politically motivated.

"Certainly when you look at the facts in the case, there certainly was no crime that occurred," he said. "Unfortunately, a young man died. Unfortunately, these things happen."

Luckily, Keller has Dem hatchet man "Sneaky" Pete Couvall in his corner to defend him:

"A lot of people happen to think he's doing a damn good job, and I hate to see him abandon that post," said Pete Couvall, his former campaign manager.

Keller=Toast. Done. Next.