Major changes in the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office after Target 11 investigation

More than a year after a Target 11 Investigation exposed delays and other issues involving notification of death certificates and autopsy reports, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office is making changes.

The changes come after a Target 11 Investigation highlighted some of the difficulties a couple encountered while awaiting reports on the overdose death of their daughter.

“Death is a very, very lonely journey. The grief is unbearable. I never knew a body could cry this much, but knowing that we can help others, ” said Sherry Matt, whose 21-year-old daughter Siena, passed away in September of 2020.

Sherry Matt is referring specifically to a new interactive website the Medical Examiner’s office just launched that allows family members to track information about the death of a loved one in Allegheny County. This information includes cause and manner of death, autopsy reports and toxicology reports.

“When you’re grieving like you just don’t want any more work ahead of you, you don’t want a process that is just going to roadblock you and, and there’s so many obstacles. This is so easy for families to use,” said Matt.

Matt said her daughter had struggled with addiction and depression, but had recently returned from rehab and appeared to be doing much better. She died from a fentanyl overdose in the basement of their home.