Cyril H. Wecht, M.D., J.D. (Chairman)

Coroner, County of Allegheny
Medical-Legal Consultant

Dr. Cyril Wecht is coroner of Allegheny County, and one of the world’s leading experts in forensic pathology. In his official capacity, he administers a governmental department responsible for investigating all sudden, suspicious, violent and unexplained deaths within its jurisdiction.

As a medical-legal expert, Dr. Wecht has performed approximately 14,000 autopsies and has supervised, reviewed or been consulted on approximately 30,000 additional post-mortem examinations. In addition, Dr. Wecht frequently appears as a guest on national TV and radio shows to discuss various medical-legal and scientific subjects, including medical malpractice; alcohol and drug abuse; the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy; the death of Elvis Presley; and the O.J. Simpson and JonBenet Ramsey cases.

These cases, along with many others, are discussed in his popular non-fiction books, "Cause of Death," "Grave Secrets" and "Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey?" (all published by Dutton/Penguin).

Dr. Wecht is a clinical professor at the University of Pittsburgh schools of Medicine, Dental Medicine and Public Health, and is an adjunct professor at Duquesne University’s schools of Law, Pharmacy and Health Sciences. He has served as president of the American College of Legal Medicine and the American Academy of Forensic Science, as well as chairman of the boards of trustees of both the American Board of Legal Medicine and the American College of Legal Medicine Foundation.

Dr. Wecht received his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh and his law degree from the University of Maryland. He is certified by the American Board of Pathology in anatomic, clinical and forensic pathology, and is a fellow of both the College of American Pathologists and the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

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