Deputy coroner accused of stealing thousands from dead man
LONGVIEW, Wash. – When Larry Williams died of natural causes in June deputy coroner Jeff Hart went to his apartment to investigate.
Williams' neighbors say they were shocked when police came back with their own questions two months later.
"It's a despicable thing to do anyways, but someone in a position of trust, it's even worse," said one neighbor.
A probable-cause statement says Williams' daughter in Kansas told police her dad's debit card was used. The documents say Hart admitted using the card.
Blaming his "severe financial problems, (Hart) withdrew cash from various ATM machines to pay for family bills and to purchase incidental items" totaling nearly $12,000, according to the
court documents.
Hart worked at the Cowlitz County Coroner's Office as a deputy coroner. He was hired at the end of 2009 only as part time. As soon as the coroner's office found out about the allegations,
Hart was fired.
"This job takes a certain type of person to be able to do. It takes a good person," says Cowlitz County coroner Tim Davidson. "I don't know exactly what created this problem for Mr. Hart,
what his indiscretions were, but he was a good person."
Davidson says Hart also worked in the Kelso School District and as a realtor.
His old neighbor's say Hart moved out months ago. His Kelso home is now listed in foreclosure.
Hart isn't in jail, but he didn't return a phone call from KATU News.
Davidson says they've never had problems at the coroner's office before. They don't believe there are other victims and are working to keep it that way.
"It's almost like a second family down here," Davidson says. "To have one of your family members do something like this, it's little bit of a betrayal feeling."
Davidson says his office is now reviewing protocol so the community will know that it can still trust the people who are still working at the county coroner's office.
Honeybear,
You may have know Jeff for over 20 years...but you sure are not a friend.
People, If you know honeybear....watch out! She will tattle on you.
WHY isn't this thief in JAIL???!!!
LostSoul is right on. Karma is going to come back and bite this man bad. The dude wasn't too bright, like nobody would put two and two together over missing funds.
 I've known Jeff for over 20 years.  I can attest to the fact that the money issues has nothing to do with addictions.  They are in the process of remodeling his father-in-laws home in Castle Rock after they let the house in Kelso go back to the bank.  I was wondering where all the money was coming from.  I thought they were still using the money his wife received after her father passed away.  I guess not.  This just goes to show that you can't ever trust anyone.  Including those that judge others that may have made similar mistakes.  It is a shame that he and his family will have to live with his mistake. Â
 @honeybear hay was there any other odd times through out his working  as a cop or what not , before his father- in-law?
Mistake? How about deliberate crime??? @honeybearÂ
I would guess an underlying drug or gambling problem...
 @Owt_Raged LOL...you would GUESS an underlying drug or gambling problem? Read the opinion above you. But then never mind....since you GUESS. Maybe people just do bad things because they are desperate or maybe they have their struggles.....and they become scared or maybe it is something else that no one knows why....
 @kzfly Wow, you are just really angry, aren't you? Sorry that I could not read the comment made 3 hours after mine, before I posted.
50 years of living has taught me that honest people with normal problems DON"T steal money. So obviously this guy has major problems with spending, so that's his addiction.
 @Owt_Raged How ever I do think you are right! People who are "normal" in normal situations with normal every day life dont steal typically.
 @Owt_Raged  @kzfly What are normal problems? I think that if someone is honest all their life, and they become desperate enough, they can make life altering decisions and mistakes. I was stating that you should read the opinion above yours...I dont think I stated that you should have read it before posting yours. I was making an observation about how people must always twist what is written or said, and make things up about "addictions". Why would I be angry....It is your opinion which I respect....and this is simply mine.
"This job takes a certain type of person to be able to do. It takes a good person," says Cowlitz County coroner Tim Davidson. "I don't know exactly what created this problem for Mr. Hart, what his indiscretions were, but he was a good person."
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A good person doesn't steal, no matter how bad things get.
The guy kinda looks like Phil Vassar.
KARMA man KARMA. Its not cool to mess with the dead.
Well, I hope that 12k was worth losing his job and any other future prospects of another job. Â
He belongs in jail and doing restitution as well. @dandalionÂ
 Hart also worked in the Kelso School District and as a realtor.
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That should have been a clue right there that he was a weasel.
 @2012 Hope and Change Really a weasel? ummm what does the Kelso School District and being a realtor have to do with anything? Gesh get your facts straight and make sense!!!
"They don't believe there are other victims and are working to keep it that way."
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It's that kind of naivete that allowed this sort of thing to happen. They better start digging into this guys cases before they get bit again.
 @Scotty9 or maybe there really isn't other victims? could that be possible or are you like the rest of them where you cant believe the truth, because you know so much more....right?
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Having been in law enforcement for 25 years I've rarely arrested someone who just committed their first offense. @kzflyÂ
 @kzfly Sorry, I'm not following you. Perhaps I wasn't clear. What I was trying to say is that most criminals commit numerous crimes before they are caught. For every time a duii driver is arrested they've probably driven drunk hundreds of times. Someone that's been arrested for child sex abuse usually has many victims before they're caught.
You have rarely arrrest someone who has committed a crime? even if it is their first time committing such a crime? YIKES what happend to if you commit any crimes then you should get arrest...I think that you have just hit the nail on the head....of why so many criminals are out on the streets....is what I mean. @Scotty9Â
 @kzfly Do you mean the truth according to the media? Or do you have direct access to the files on this case?
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Rarely is the media completely truthful, especially when the truth is boring.
 @Owt_Raged  @kzfly of course the media is not true. That is why people make assumptions based on what they see or read....
 @Scotty9 The coroner has pulled every one of Hart's cases for a full review.Â
 @Leslie Slape That's a good start, but these types of cases can be difficult to find victims. Aunt Mabel dies and days, weeks or months later the family inventories her estate and who knows what could be missing. Did she have 10 gold rings or was it 11? Didn't she have a Rolex watch? maybe she sold it. If this guy had free roam of people's homes it maybe impossible to know how many victims there could be.
Another goateed tough guy who thinks he's special!
@Rob C I've got a goatee, I'm tough but not special. Wait! I'm special I've just been informed. You want to fight?
Police better check for missing rings and jewlery taken off the deceased.
Crooked cornors have been known to take valuables such as jewlery off the deceased at automobile accidents. Â
 @Leinenkugle's Really? now it isn't just someone breaking the law...the coroners (if of course I am reading your incorrect writing skills) are stealing and crooked? ugh please go back to school and study how being a criminal is not contagious....
 @Leinenkugle's I'm covering this story for our newspaper. The coroner told me that sometimes people say a ring or something is missing, and then they call later and say they found it in the house. He said there is not one single case (before this one) of theft in his office.Â
Did I read this right or what.. We need a certain amount of trust in this office, and yet they never locked they guy up..
So with that trust comes the pleasure of knowing if you rob a dead man of his money you don't go to jail..
I can totally understand a thief working in that office, but to let him walk scott free is beyond my comprehension..
 @dougrpdx Oh wow....well if you read the article and watch the video, you may remember them saying that he was arrested....so in turn he didn't get off scott free....doesn't he have a sentencing hearing on the 29th? What does one mans mistakes have to do with an entire office? maybe you can comprehend that your facts are not completely accurate!!!
 @dougrpdx He was locked up Aug. 16 when he was arrested. He was let out on his own recognizance after he appeared before a judge.Â
Anything over $1K is a felony I believe. Hopefully the DA will do the right thing and charge this POS.
 @molotovmouse I've known Jeff for over 20 years.  I can attest to the fact that the money issues has nothing to do with addictions.  They are in the process of remodeling his father-in-laws home in Castle Rock after they let the house in Kelso go back to the bank.  I was wondering where all the money was coming from.  I thought they were still using the money his wife received after her father passed away.  I guess not.  This just goes to show that you can't ever trust anyone.  Including those that judge others that may have made similar mistakes.  It is a shame that he and his family will have to live with his mistake. Â
 @molotovmouse Charges were filed Tuesday. All the charges are felonies. The prosecutor is going for a sentence beyond the standard range for all charges.
Leslie - thanks for sharing addiitonal information on this story.
"This job takes a certain type of person to be able to do. It takes a good person," says Cowlitz County coroner Tim Davidson. "I don't know exactly what created this problem for Mr. Hart, what his indiscretions were, but he was a good person."
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Yeah, a good thief. I detest dishonest people; particularly when they are in a position of trust with the public. I am pretty darn sure Jim Hart will have the typical defense of his actions: a drug addiction, gambling addiction, spending addiction, etc. Of course those are neither valid excuses, nor reasons. What dishonest people that steal have is the unwillingness to accept personal responsibility for their own behavior, and the unwillingness to be personally responsibile for themselves.
 @I812 Ok well I feel that if you are going to belittle someone you don't know, and judge him maybe you should get his name right. Second of all, where are you coming up with these addictions? or are you adding it for sure wow factor...didn't the article state he felt in dire financial trouble? You are right however, that dishonest people are horrible and in no way should his actions should have happened. There is no valid reasons or actions that could be acceptable for what he has done to that family of the person who died. But did you know him? if the answer is no then how can you say what was said about him was bull in the article...be reasonable.
 @kzfly I get the feeling you are somehow related to the coroner....
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Me thinks he doth protest too much...
 @kzfly  @Owt_Raged lol u know whats funny about all of this. i know that the Longview pd takes drugs out of their evidence locker room . because i know the person  and his wife who get cocaine from the pigs.( i see them around )
 @Owt_Raged I am not related to any one there or anyone who is ever been on the news....I am however able to see both sides of everything. Is it possible that has to do with education? People spend too much time trying to live a soap opera or a reality television that they can never try to understand both sides or to look between the lines with an open mind. I agree with peoples views on here and the fact that what Mr. Hart did is completely and utterly wrong. Maybe you are related to the people who control the media?