To aid in the investigation, determination, and certification of cause and manner of deaths under Coroner‘s jurisdiction (homicide, suicide, trauma, unexpected death, death in police custody, unattended death, etc.) occurring in Bulloch County; respond to on-scene investigations for all homicides, all suicides, as well as all unattended deaths.
Provide general and on-scene investigations of all homicides, suicides and suspicious deaths, and, request autopsies to be performed based on the law and assist in the determination of the cause and manner of death. Consult with law enforcement, legal and other interested parties, and expert testimony in court procedures.
The Bulloch County Coroner’s Office investigates sudden, unexpected, violent, or suspicious deaths to determine the cause and manner of death, identify the deceased, and notify next of kin. The office works closely with law enforcement and medical professionals to provide answers for families and to ensure public health and safety.
It handles cases in which a death did not occur under a physician’s direct care, including those involving nursing homes or hospice facilities. Depending on the circumstances, bodies may be sent to the GBI Crime Lab for autopsies, toxicology screenings, and evidence collection. The Coroner’s Office is also responsible for issuing death certificates, which are vital documents used to settle legal matters and insurance benefits for survivors of the decedent.
The Bulloch County Coroner’s Office is expanding and improving its operations. Since opening a new physical location and hiring a new administrative assistant in September, the office has converted more than 5,000 physical death case records—accumulated over 40 years—into a digital format. This transition has increased efficiency, reduced costs, and improved security by creating searchable and accessible digital files, minimizing physical storage needs, enabling remote work, and protecting records from loss or damage. Recordkeeping is a critical function of the Coroner’s Office, as death investigation reports are legal documents that may be subpoenaed in criminal or civil proceedings and are frequently requested by physicians, insurance companies, and families. The office also works closely with local funeral homes to assist families with final disposition.
The Bulloch County Coroner’s Office has six staff members. Bulloch County Coroner Chuck Francis serves as the department head and has 30 years of experience in the medical field. He is a registered nurse and cath lab coordinator at East Georgia Regional Medical Center. He is also a certified paramedic and served as deputy coroner for 20 years under the previous county coroner.
The office has four deputy coroners. Deputy Coroner Craig Tremble is the owner and funeral director of Craig R. Tremble Funeral Home in Statesboro. Deputy Coroner Richard Pylant is the owner/manager of Curtron Transport Services. Deputy Coroner Lisa Bowers is a registered nurse at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah and Optim Medical Center in Sylvania with 45 years of emergency room experience. She also served as nursing supervisor for Memorial. Deputy Coroner Michele Ruper-Smith is the funeral director of Deal’s Funeral Home, program director and lead instructor for the Ogeechee Technical College Funeral Service Program, and a certified grief counselor.
The newest addition to the office is Administrative Specialist Cheryl Crummett, an Air Force veteran with 25 years of combined experience in public safety, including service as a 911 dispatcher for four Georgia counties, as well as a firefighter and emergency medical technician.
The Bulloch County Coroner’s Office conducts critical forensic investigations into deaths requiring official inquiry, providing closure for families and vital information for the justice system and public health.
