Commissioner Sean Tindell announced today several new hires and promotions at the State Medical Examiner’s Office, including the appointment of Dr. Staci Turner to Chief Medical Examiner.

Dr. Turner previously served as the Interim Chief Medical Examiner. Prior to joining the
Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Dr. Turner served as the Regional Deputy Chief Medical
Examiner for the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. She also previously served as the
Assistant Medical Examiner at Forensic Medical in Nashville, Tennessee, and as the Medical
Examiner for the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences.

Dr. Turner received her Medical Degree from the University of Kentucky and graduated with high
distinction. She completed pathology residency training at the University of Kentucky. She also
completed the Forensic Pathology Fellowship program at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic
Sciences in Dallas, Texas.

In addition to the appointment of Dr. Turner, the following individuals will serve in new roles at
the State Medical Examiner’s Office.

 Dr. Ariane Robison, Deputy Medical Examiner – Dr. Ariane Robison joined the State
Medical Examiner’s Office to serve as Deputy Medical Examiner. Dr. Robison received her
Medical Degree from Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany. She completed a
postdoctoral research fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Department of Pathology in Baltimore,
Maryland. She completed pathology residency training at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit,
Michigan, and forensic pathology training at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor,
Michigan.

 Kristy Simmons, Director of the State Medical Examiner’s Office – Kristy Simmons has
been appointed to serve as Director of the State Medical Examiner’s Office. Simmons has
served with the State Medical Examiner’s Office for more than 15 years as a Chief Pathology
Technician, Administrator, and Investigator. Simmons received her Bachelor’s Degree in
Healthcare Administration from Belhaven University.

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety is also announcing the appointment of four new
Medical Examiner Investigators at the State Medical Examiner’s Office. These positions were
created as a result of House Bill 974, which passed in the 2021 Legislative Session and was signed
into law by Governor Tate Reeves. These positions require a forensic or medical background and,
may assist with the completion of autopsies under the supervision of the State Medical Examiner.

 Devin Marlow, Medical Examiner Investigator – Devin Marlow serves as a Medical
Examiner Investigator for the State Medical Examiner’s Office. Marlow previously served as a
Medical Examiner Assistant. Prior to joining the Mississippi Department of Public Safety,
Marlow served as an Investigator with the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Marlow
received her Bachelor’s Degree in Forensic Science with an emphasis in Criminal Justice from
the University of Southern Mississippi.

 Tanya Koehn, Medical Examiner Investigator – Tanya Koehn serves as a Medical Examiner
Investigator for the State Medical Examiner’s Office. Koehn previously served as a Medical
Examiner Assistant. Prior to joining the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Koehn
served as a Funeral Director and Embalmer for Service Corporation International and Parkway
Funeral Home. Koehn received her Associate Degree in Funeral Services
Technology/Mortuary Science from Holmes Community College.

 Alvin Peoples, Medical Examiner Investigator – Alvin Peoples joined the State Medical
Examiner’s Office to serve as a Medical Examiner Investigator. Peoples is a registered nurse
with ten years of experience in nursing and an additional eight years of experience in the
healthcare field. Prior to joining the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Peoples served as
an Emergency Room Charge Registered Nurse at Memorial Hospital at Stone County. He
previously served as the Deputy Coroner for the Stone County Coroner’s Office. Peoples
received his Associate Degree in Nursing from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

 Cameron Harrington, Medical Examiner Investigator – Cameron Harrington joined the
State Medical Examiner’s Office to serve as a Medical Examiner Investigator. Prior to joining
the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Harrington served as a Deputy EMA for Stone
County Emergency Management Agency. He previously served as the Deputy Coroner for the
Stone County Coroner’s Office. Harrington received his Associate Degree in Emergency
Medical Sciences/Paramedic from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

“I applaud the legislature and the governor’s office for enacting HB 974, which has allowed the
State Medical Examiner’s Office to create new positions that will further help us improve the
services that we provide to our citizens,” said Commissioner Sean Tindell. “It is our belief that Dr.
Turner’s leadership, in conjunction with the new hires and promotions within the State Medical
Examiner’s Office, will allow us to create efficiencies in determining the cause and manner of
death for all reportable deaths requiring investigation.”