Miller County, Missouri Coroner’s Office

04/13/2026

This week, we recognize National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, honoring the dedicated men and women who serve as the first, first responders.

Every call they answer could be someone’s worst day. Their calm voice, quick thinking, and ability to gather critical information play a vital role in saving lives and supporting emergency personnel in the field.

The Miller County Coroner’s Office would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all telecommunicators for their professionalism, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the community. Your work does not go unnoticed, and we are grateful for the partnership we share in serving the citizens of Miller County.

04/05/2026

One pill can kill.

Free naloxone: https://getmissourinaloxone.com/pick-up-today

04/01/2026

The Miller County Coroner’s Office will be in attendance at the upcoming Town Hall and Candidate Meet & Greet on April 6th at 6:00 PM at The Encore in Lake Ozark.

This event provides an opportunity for residents to engage directly with elected officials and candidates, ask questions, and gain a better understanding of how their local government operates.

Public service requires transparency and accountability. I encourage anyone with questions about the Coroner’s Office or county operations to attend.

03/30/2026

I had originally planned to have our 2025 Annual Report completed and released earlier this year. However, in order to ensure accuracy and completeness, we needed to wait for a case from 2025 to be fully finalized. This included receiving the final autopsy results before closing the investigation.

Now that all cases from 2025 have been completed and reviewed, I’m proud to share the finalized annual report with the community. Transparency and accuracy are important to us, and we wanted to make sure everything included in this report reflects the most complete and accurate information possible.

Thank you all for your continued support.

03/11/2026

The Missouri Department of Public Safety and our law enforcement partners as well as government entities and the private sector are stepping up security measures in an expanded effort to detect and defend against potential targeting by Iran – the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. Iran and other terrorist groups’ actions could range from cyberattacks designed to overwhelm servers, to phishing attempts to gain access to computer systems, and even activating “sleeper cells” around the globe to include the United States. (There is open-source reporting of encrypted messages likely being transmitted to clandestine operatives).
There are also continued domestic terrorism threats like the attempted IED attack in New York on Saturday, which is believed to have been ISIS-inspired (ISIS and Iran are bitter sectarian enemies).
For these reasons, the public’s attention to threats should also be heightened. Tips from the public can thwart terror attacks. Individuals and businesses are also advised to more closely scrutinize online communications (also emails, texts, phone calls) to better protect personal information and financial assets.
▶️If you see an immediate threat, call 911.
▶️If you see any suspicious activity, use the Missouri SafeNation app to report it – you can remain anonymous. You can also upload pictures and video. The SafeNation app is available in the App Store and Google Play. Speaking up protects us all!
▶️In the app, select Cyber Crime or Suspicious Activity.
▶️You can also file a Threat and Terrorism Related Suspicious Activity Tip online here: https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=2600

▶️SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY INDICATORS:
• Surveillance: Individuals taking pictures of critical infrastructure, government buildings, security cameras, and individuals taking notes;
• Elicitation: Individuals asking about security staff, how many security staff are on at certain times of the day, and asking about day-to-day operations;
• Tests of Security: Observing individuals trying to access secured areas, trying to follow staff into secure areas, bomb threats, and threats against individuals/organizations/sites;
• Acquiring Supplies: Individuals or groups acquiring uniforms, badges, chemicals, weapons, or materials to construct explosive devices;
• Suspicious Persons Out of Place: Observing individuals that appear to have no reason to be in the area they are in and people who do not appear to belong;
• Dry Run/Trial Run: Practice run before an actual attack to work out any flaws or unanticipated problems and mapping out routes, timing traffic flow;
• Expressed or Implied Threat: Threatening to commit a crime or kill people or damage a facility, infrastructure, or secured site;
• Sabotage/Tampering/Vandalism: Damaging or destroying part of a facility, infrastructure, or secured site.

▶️BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STAGES OF SELF-RADICALIZATION, INCLUDE:
• Sudden Social Isolation: Distancing from family, friends, and former social circles;
• Lifestyle Shifts: Drastic, sudden changes in appearance, habits, or routine, such as new-found religious fervor or adopting radical views;
• Secretive Behavior: Reluctance to discuss whereabouts, or using encrypted messaging and multiple online identities;
• Aggressive Argumentation: Becoming increasingly argumentative and refusing to engage with different viewpoints;
• Adopting Conspiracy Theories: Deepening belief in conspiratorial narratives that frame a specific group as an enemy;
• Excessive Online Time: Spending increasing amounts of time in online chatrooms, forums, or on social media, often focusing on extremist content;
• Following Extremist Figures: Consuming, sharing, or curating content from known extremist recruiters or propaganda.

▶️SUSPICIOUS DRONE SIGHTINGS:
Careless or malicious drone operators may exhibit suspicious flight behavior that could indicate unsafe or illegal activity. The indicators below should be considered in context, including behavioral patterns and violation of FAA regulations. The presence of a single indicator does not presume illegal activity is taking place.
What does suspicious drone activity look like?
• Erratic, uncontrolled, or other unsafe flight patterns over people or vehicles;
• Consistent flight patterns or hovering around a fixed location;
• Taped-over lights or other visual masking attempts;
• Suspicious payloads such as oddly shaped items, weapons, or contraband;
• Drone flight without a visible operator in the vicinity;
• Flying over or around critical infrastructure.

03/09/2026

Please be cognitive if you are traveling in this area.

A portion of Industrial Drive will be closed on Thursday, March 12th for the entirety of the day so that a storm drain can be replaced. Please keep this in mind during your morning and afternoon commutes.

02/26/2026

During my campaign and prior to taking office, one of my main goals was to make the Coroner’s Office more visible and engaged with the public. I never wanted this office to be seen only as a last responder, showing up only when someone has died. Instead, my goal has been to be more proactive by working alongside other emergency services and the community to help prevent injuries and deaths whenever possible.

My first year in office was focused on building a solid foundation by obtaining the necessary investigative tools, equipment, and supplies needed to properly serve Miller County. Now, in my second year, we are able to expand our focus to public outreach, education, and prevention.

This week, on February 23 and February 25, the Miller County Coroner’s Office conducted Stop the Bleed training for the jail staff of the Miller County Sheriff’s Office. This training was made possible through collaboration with the Miller County Ambulance District and the Miller County, Missouri Sheriff's Office, highlighting the importance of cooperation between local emergency services.

Stop the Bleed training teaches lifesaving skills that allow individuals to recognize life threatening bleeding and take immediate action to control it until advanced care arrives. These are simple skills that can truly make the difference between life and death.

Looking ahead, we plan to expand this type of training to members of the general public, schools, other law enforcement agencies, and additional community groups. We also hope to offer other educational opportunities in the future, including CPR training and babysitting safety classes.

If your organization, school, or group is interested in hosting or receiving this type of training, please contact the Miller County Coroner’s Office at:

Phone: 573-369-2341, extension 714
Email: [email protected]

Thank you for your continued support as we work to make Miller County a safer and more prepared community.

02/09/2026

❤️ February is American Heart Month ❤️

The Miller County Coroner’s Office wants to bring attention to the seriousness of heart attacks, which remain one of the leading causes of sudden death in our country. Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans die from heart related events, many occurring outside of a hospital setting.

Heart attacks do not always look the same. Common warning signs can include:
• Chest pressure, pain, or tightness
• Pain that may radiate to the arm, neck, jaw, or back
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or cold sweats
• Unusual fatigue, especially in women

In many cases, symptoms are ignored or mistaken for something minor. Minutes matter. Calling 911 at the first sign of a heart attack can significantly improve survival and outcomes.

Sudden cardiac arrest can follow a heart attack. When this happens, immediate CPR and early use of an AED can mean the difference between life and death. Bystander CPR has been shown to double or even triple survival rates.

The Miller County Coroner’s Office encourages everyone to take heart health seriously this month:
• Learn the warning signs
• Know your personal risk factors
• Seek medical care early
• Get trained in CPR and AED use through organizations such as the American Red Cross

This February, help us raise awareness. Recognizing the signs and acting quickly can save lives.

02/07/2026

❤️ February is American Heart Month! 🫀

Each February, we join the nation in raising awareness about heart health and preventing heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the CDC, heart disease is responsible for nearly 1 in every 4 deaths in the U.S. each year. That means hundreds of thousands of lives lost annually to conditions like heart attacks and cardiac arrest. 

Every year in the U.S.:
• Someone dies of cardiovascular disease approximately every 33 seconds. 
• More than 350,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, and sadly about 90% of those incidents are fatal. 
• Someone has a heart attack about every 40 seconds. 

But there’s good news, you can make a difference! Knowing how to respond in an emergency can save a life. CPR and use of an AED (automated external defibrillator) can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival during cardiac arrest. 

Training & Resources:
✔️ American Red Cross – CPR & AED Training: Learn lifesaving skills both online and in person at redcross.org/takeaclass. 
✔️ Red Cross First Aid App: Free step-by-step guidance for emergencies including CPR. 
✔️ American Heart Association Education: Find CPR courses and heart health info at heart.org. 

Tips to protect your heart year-round:
• Get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly. 
• Exercise most days of the week. 
• Eat heart-healthy foods and avoid to***co. 

Let’s work together to keep our hearts healthy for ourselves, our families, and our community.

Learn more about the American Heart Association's efforts to reduce death caused by heart disease and stroke. Also learn about cardiovascular conditions, ECC and CPR, donating, heart disease information for healthcare professionals, caregivers, and educators and healthy living.

02/02/2026

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Miller County Coroner’s Office

The Miller County Coroner’s Office confirms that Amanda Rodgers, age 35, was located deceased following a motor vehicle crash in Miller County.
On February 2, 2026, the Miller County Coroner’s Office responded to a motor vehicle collision on US-54 near Howser Road. Ms. Rodgers was pronounced deceased at 0143 hours by Coroner Caleb Shelton.

Ms. Rodgers’ vehicle was located off the roadway and concealed by a fallen tree, making it difficult to observe from the roadway. The vehicle was discovered by a Miller County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was actively searching the area.
The death is being investigated by the Miller County Coroner’s Office in conjunction with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The Coroner’s Office was assisted by the Miller County Sheriff’s Office, the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District.

At this time, foul play or suspicious circumstances are not suspected, and the incident appears consistent with an accidental motor vehicle crash. The investigation remains ongoing as required by Missouri law.

This incident was the subject of a previously issued Endangered Person Advisory. With the recovery of Ms. Rodgers, the advisory is no longer active.

Out of respect for the family, no further details will be released at this time.

The Miller County Coroner’s Office extends its deepest condolences to Ms. Rodgers’ family and loved ones during this difficult time.

02/01/2026

If you see Mrs. Rodgers, her vehicle, or have any information, please contact your local law enforcement.