McHenry Co. Taxpayers Could Foot Bill for Attorney in Former Coroner's Dead-Baby Case

Dennis Robaugh contributed to this article

McHenry County taxpayers could end up footing the bill for a former coroner’s defense as legal proceedings continue in a case where she is accused of mishandling the remains of at least two infants, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Marlene Lantz, who served as the coroner for McHenry County for 20 years, faces misconduct charges after the mummified body of an infant was found in the morgue and later, the remains of another baby, a 22-week-old miscarried fetus, was found, according to the article. The corpses were not properly handled.

Judge Robert Wilbrandt Jr. said five outside prosecutors offices refused to defend Lantz and added that he will now appoint a private attorney to represent her, the newspaper reports. The rate for the private attorney is expected to be $150 per hour and the county, and its taxpayers, may end up footing that bill since Lantz’s misconduct occurred while she was elected as the coroner.

Reports the Northwest Herald:

According to the indictment, from March 13, 1992, until Lantz left office on Nov. 30, 2012, she failed to dispose of the body of “Baby Reinert,” also known as “Baby Doe.” As part of her official duties, Lantz should have buried the remains, cremated them or donated them to science, the indictment says.

The indictment also says Lantz signed a death certificate saying the baby was buried and that the identity of the mother was unknown, and she did so knowing that such information was false.

Lantz served as coroner from 1988 to 2012. She began working in the coroner’s office in 1980 and was a member of several professional organizations, including the Illinois Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners, the International Association of Identification and the Midwest Homicide Investigators Association.

Why she may have done this as yet is unclear. Authorities are not discussing the evidence.

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