Family in Turmoil Over Identification of Remains

Since the death of their 21-year-old daughter Jennifer in May 1996, a Chino Hills couple have had real concerns about her burial.

Ed and Sheri Denzin learned with a shock on July 4, 1998 that their daughter might not be in her grave. The Denzins requested a second exhumation after learning that cemetery personnel at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier were not sure that their daughters body was returned after it was exhumed the first time for an autopsy by the county coroner's office.

Asked to witness

Retired mortician Max Carter of Chino Hills was requested to witness the re-opening last month by Denzin attorney E. Lawrence Brock.

This week, the Coroner sought the resignation of Mr. Carter from the county grand jury.

Coroner Brian McCormick accused Mr. Carter of using his authority as a grand juror to receive privileged information about the coroner's department for use against the county in the Denzin matter.

He said Mr. Carter badgered and intimidated staff members by using recording devices and admonishments.

Mr. Carter, 80, vehemently denied the allegations.

"I'm rather shocked," said the soft spoken Chino Hills man. "I'm just an ordinary citizen who volunteered to serve on the grand jury."

Mr. Carter said he was asked by his longtime friend Mr. Brock to witness the exhumation as a favor.

Mr. Carter said he used a tape recorder to interview several members of the coroner's office, including Mr. McCormick, because his memory isn't good. Mr. Carter was assigned to the 1998-99 grand jury's coroner's committee because of his experience as a mortician, he said. His term is up June 30.

The toe tag mystery

During the second exhumation last year, Vidal Herrera, a former investigator with the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office and founder of 1-800-AUTOPSY, was hired by Rose Hills to go into the grave to identify the body and take DNA samples while Mr. Carter stood by.

The Denzins said they were stunned when they learned recently no identifying toe tag was found.

They said Deputy Coroner Investigator Gabe Morales assured them the identification tag on the body would prove it was Jennifer.

The distraught couple attended Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting urging an investigation.

The Champion learned this week from Mr. Herrera that he did locate the coroner's toe tag, removed it and photographed it. He said he placed it on a towel and showed it to Mr. Carter.

Mr. Carter confirmed that he saw the coroner's identification paper and felt it was sufficient to prove that it was Jennifer's body.

Asked for help

During the board meeting, County Supervisor, Fred Aguiar directed staff attorneys to investigate. The following day, Mr. McCormick issued a press release calling for the resignation of Mr. Carter.

The coroner ruled that Jennifer, 21-year-old mother of one, had died of chronic bronchial asthma. She was buried without an autopsy but later the body was exhumed for examination and reburied.