Meet Michael Burson, Weld County’s new coroner

By Kelly Ragan

On Tuesday, Weld County announced Carl Blesch would step down as the county’s coroner. Blesch, who has served as the county coroner since 2017, will continue to work part-time in an administrative role, according to a county news release. 

Dr. Michael Burson will take on the role. 

Michael Burson

Burson has experience as a forensic pathologist, according to the release. 

He’s been the principal forensic pathologist in the coroner’s office for a decade. During that time, he’s been involved with several major cases in Colorado.

He wrote the report on the results of the examination of Jonelle Matthew’s remains, which were found July 23, 2019, according to CBS 4. Matthews disappeared in 1984.

Burson also worked as the medical examiner on Ashley Doolittle’s case. Doolittle, of Fort Collins, was 18 when she died. Tanner Flores was convicted of the murder and kidnapping in 2017, according to the Fort Collins Coloradoan. 

Burson holds a Ph.D in physiology and pharmacology from Oregon Health and Science University and an M.D. from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, according to the news release. He also taught physiology in the United States Air Force, at City College of San Francisco and at the College of Emergency Medicine in Portland, Oregon. 

“It seemed time for me to take a lesser role,” said Blesch in the release. “Dr. Burson is the best choice for this position, and I look forward to working with him. I recommended Dr. Burson to the board because I felt with his experience as a forensic pathologist, his experience teaching, his knowledge of community, and knowledge of our coroner’s office, he was the best person.”

The announcement follows on the heels of the appointment of Mark Lawley, deputy director of Weld County Public Health and Environment. 

Lawley officially came into the role last month, essentially taking over for Mark Wallace. Wallace, the health department’s former executive director, announced his plans to retire after clashing with commissioners. 

The bigger picture 

Coroners across Colorado play a major part in COVID-19 reporting. 

While coroners don’t investigate every death in the county they serve, they do look into deaths caused by injury, deaths where a doctor wasn’t present, and a couple other circumstances. 

They can, but aren’t necessarily required to, investigate deaths caused by infectious diseases, like COVID-19 or the flu.

In May, there was statewide outcry over inconsistent reporting on COVID-19 deaths by coroners, prompting confusion and criticism, according to the Colorado Sun.

The state has worked to alleviate some of that controversy by adjusting how it reports cases. Colorado now reports the number of people who died directly because of COVID-19 and people who died while infected where COVID-19 may not have been the official cause of death. 

“We’re excited to welcome Dr. Burson as the new coroner,” said Commissioner Mike Freeman in the release. “We appreciate Carl Blesh’s service as coroner and are confident Dr. Burson has the traits, experience and skills needed to continue excellent leadership in the office.”