Theodore Curphey
Encyclopedia
Dr. Theodore Joscelyn Curphey (born October 25, 1897, died November 27, 1986, Pasadena, California
) was an American
coroner
who was the chief coroner for Los Angeles and Nassau
Counties.
Curphey was elected Nassau County
medical examiner on December 15, 1937 by the Nassau County Board of Supervisors. Prior to becoming county medical examiner, Curphey had worked as a pathologist
at St. John's Hospital in Brooklyn
and Meadowbrook Hospital
in East Meadow, New York
. As Nassau County's Chief Medical Examiner he oversaw the autopsies of Robert L. Bacon
, Janet Fay, Owen Davis, Jr.
, and William Woodward, Jr.
. He also worked with the FBI
to identify the fatalities of Northeast Airlines Flight 823
. While working as Nassau County Medical Examiner, Curphey also served as the Chairman of the New York State Medical Society's Public Health and Education Committee, President of the Nassau County Medical Society, and Chairman of the Nassau County Committee of the American Cancer Society
.
On March 19, 1957, Curphey was announced as the first Coroner of Los Angeles County. In his first year as coroner, he was involved in a dispute with local morticians over delay in issuing death certificates. In November 1958, Curphey's autopsy procedures were investigated by a grand jury, which accused him of misconduct. The charges against Curphey were later brought before the Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission, which promised him that no further complaints will be filed against him.
Curphey was the chief coroner during the investigation into the death of Marilyn Monroe
. On August 7, 1962, Two days after Monroe’s death, Curphey announced that a massive overdose of barbiturates was the cause of death. He later said she had lethal doses of both Nembutal
or Chloral hydrate
and she could have been killed either.
Curphey also administered the autopsies of Jack Westrope
, George Reeves
, Davey Moore
, , and Dorothy Dandridge
.
Curphey retired on October 25, 1967 from the Los Angeles County Coroner
’s office. After his retirement he served as consultant in forensic medicine and on the Suicide Prevention Bureau, which he founded.
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
who was the chief coroner for Los Angeles and Nassau
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
Counties.
Curphey was elected Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
medical examiner on December 15, 1937 by the Nassau County Board of Supervisors. Prior to becoming county medical examiner, Curphey had worked as a pathologist
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
at St. John's Hospital in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
and Meadowbrook Hospital
Nassau University Medical Center
Nassau University Medical Center is a teaching hospital affiliated with the Health Sciences Center of the State University of New York at Stony Brook...
in East Meadow, New York
East Meadow, New York
East Meadow is a hamlet in Nassau County , New York, United States. East Meadow is an unincorporated area in the Town of Hempstead....
. As Nassau County's Chief Medical Examiner he oversaw the autopsies of Robert L. Bacon
Robert L. Bacon
Robert Low Bacon was a banker, Lieutenant Colonel, and congressman from New York.-Biography:Born in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, the son of Martha Waldron Cowdin and future Secretary of State Robert Bacon, he received a common school education as a child...
, Janet Fay, Owen Davis, Jr.
Owen Davis, Jr.
Owen Gould Davis, Jr. was an American actor. He was the son of Pulitzer Prize for Drama-winner, dramatist Owen Davis, Sr....
, and William Woodward, Jr.
William Woodward, Jr.
William "Billy" Woodward, Jr. was the heir to the Hanover National Bank fortune , the Belair Estate and stud farm and legacy,...
. He also worked with the FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
to identify the fatalities of Northeast Airlines Flight 823
Northeast Airlines Flight 823
Northeast Airlines Flight 823 was a scheduled flight departing from New York City's LaGuardia Airport en route to Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida on February 1, 1957, but crashed shortly after takeoff...
. While working as Nassau County Medical Examiner, Curphey also served as the Chairman of the New York State Medical Society's Public Health and Education Committee, President of the Nassau County Medical Society, and Chairman of the Nassau County Committee of the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
.
On March 19, 1957, Curphey was announced as the first Coroner of Los Angeles County. In his first year as coroner, he was involved in a dispute with local morticians over delay in issuing death certificates. In November 1958, Curphey's autopsy procedures were investigated by a grand jury, which accused him of misconduct. The charges against Curphey were later brought before the Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission, which promised him that no further complaints will be filed against him.
Curphey was the chief coroner during the investigation into the death of Marilyn Monroe
Death of Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was found dead in the bedroom of her Brentwood home by her psychoanalyst Ralph S Florence after he was called by Monroe's housekeeper Eunice Murray on August 5, 1962. She was 36 years old at the time of her death. Her death was ruled to be "acute barbiturate poisoning" by Dr. Thomas...
. On August 7, 1962, Two days after Monroe’s death, Curphey announced that a massive overdose of barbiturates was the cause of death. He later said she had lethal doses of both Nembutal
Pentobarbital
Pentobarbital is a short-acting barbiturate that was first synthesized in 1928. Pentobarbital is available as both a free acid and a sodium salt, the former of which is only slightly soluble in water and ethanol....
or Chloral hydrate
Chloral hydrate
Chloral hydrate is a sedative and hypnotic drug as well as a chemical reagent and precursor. The name chloral hydrate indicates that it is formed from chloral by the addition of one molecule of water. Its chemical formula is C2H3Cl3O2....
and she could have been killed either.
Curphey also administered the autopsies of Jack Westrope
Jack Westrope
Jack Gordon Westrope was an American Hall of Fame jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing.Born in Baker, Montana, Westrope was the son of racehorse owner/trainer W. T. Westrope. Jack was only 12 years old when he rode his first winner on a small track in Lemmon, South Dakota...
, George Reeves
George Reeves
George Reeves was an American actor best known for his role as Superman in the 1950s television program Adventures of Superman....
, Davey Moore
Davey Moore (1960s)
David S. "Davey" Moore was an American world-champion boxer who fought professionally 1953–1963. A resident of Springfield, Ohio, Moore was one of two men to box professionally under the name Davey Moore. The second boxed during the 1980s.Moore died March 25, 1963, as a result of injuries...
, , and Dorothy Dandridge
Dorothy Dandridge
Dorothy Jean Dandridge was an American actress and popular singer, and was the first African-American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress...
.
Curphey retired on October 25, 1967 from the Los Angeles County Coroner
Los Angeles County Coroner
The Los Angeles County Department of Coroner was created in its present form in Boyle Heights on December 7, 1990 by an ordinance approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, though it has existed in some form since the late 19th century....
’s office. After his retirement he served as consultant in forensic medicine and on the Suicide Prevention Bureau, which he founded.