What I will do for Stevens County as Coroner
 

As Coroner I will bring prevention and education to the forefront. It is my strong belief that the duty of a Coroner is not only to exonerate the innocent and to prosecute the guilty, but also to protect the wellbeing and lives of our community! Valuable information that directly informs preventive services is gathered through compassionate, scientific and thorough death investigation. Stevens County and our neighboring counties have experienced an increase in fatal opioid overdoses from synthetic opioids with fentanyl accounting for most of these deaths. Our rural roadways can be dangerous, not only for teenage drivers, but for everyone during the summer riding season and throughout our snowy winters. Many of us enjoy water sports and boating, swimming, hiking and hunting. Suicide prevention and mental health services go hand in hand. Eastern WA, including Stevens County, is significantly impacted by the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIWP) crisis. The need for continued education and awareness around Indigenous communities, their history, and the systemic issues that have fueled the MMIWP crisis is vital. I am wholly dedicated to Stevens County with 100% of my professional focus being on our community! 

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I have a plan in place to add transparency to the operations of the Coroner’s Office, better convey cause and manner of death statistics to families and community leaders and to increase the allocation of funds for autopsy services from the currently available budget. I will build a platform to educate our County about the effects of violence on an acute and cumulative level, the damage of illicit drug use to families and the ripple effect of risk taking and reckless behavior can have on us all! Death investigation gives a voice to those who can no longer speak for themselves. I will provide Stevens County with expert death investigation and the information we all need to keep our children healthy and safe and our lives long and healthy! 

Experience and Credentials
 

I live in the Suncrest area of Stevens County with my husband, Johnny Ennis, and our 7 children. We have had family ties to Stevens County and the community of Suncrest for over 20 years. I have directly investigated over 1600 deaths and assisted with the investigations of an innumerable amount more throughout my tenure as a Deputy Medicolegal Death Investigator (MDI) with the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office and as a Deputy Coroner for Stevens County. In addition to investigations, I am trained in autopsy, various methods of postmortem imaging and sample and evidence collection for postmortem testing.

 

I am board certified by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators, the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) and the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. I have advanced training in signs of hidden homicide and strangulation through the Department of Justice. I have a degree in Mortuary Science, spent 8 years in laboratory medicine and women’s health and 5 years as an embalmer and funeral director. I spend my down time with my parents and children. I strength train and compete in powerlifting.

 

On any given afternoon you can find us in the gym or at one of our children’s soccer or volleyball games. We have a child at each school along 291 at the South end of Stevens County! For several years now, I have guest lectured at Lakeside Middle School’s ‘medical detectives’ class and volunteered my time to teach high school students about autopsy and death investigation. When time permits I assistant coach the strength and conditioning class at Lake Side Middle School.

 

My husband, Johnny Ennis, has over 23 years of experience in the U.S. Air Force. During my campaign for Coroner, he is deployed overseas for Operation Epic Fury. He leads and manages intelligence activities across the full spectrum of warfare. He serves as the Senior Intelligence Officer and Chief of Information Protection for the 141 Air Refueling Wing, Washington State Air National Guard.