Episode 229 | Just Misperceptions about the MDI Community

Guest Biography

Dr. Michelle Aurelius has been appointed Chief Medical Examiner for the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (NC OCME). Aurelius has served North Carolina as Deputy Chief Medical Examiner since 2015. More recently, she served as Interim Chief Medical Examiner. Prior to joining the NC OCME team, Aurelius served the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator as Assistant Chief Medical Investigator and Hospital Autopsy Director. She holds triple board certifications in Anatomic, Clinical, and Forensic Pathology. She has performed and supervised and reviewed over 4,000 medical examiner cases and has testified in state and federal courts. Aurelius is a recognized national leader with pathology organizations and in forensic research. 

Alfarena (Alfie) McGinty is currently the Chief Deputy Coroner at the Marion County Coroner’s Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is an Indiana certified Medicolegal Death Investigator and has worked at the Marion County Coroner’s Office for 25 years. She is the first African American female appointed as Chief Deputy Coroner in Marion County and has served in that capacity for 16 years. As Chief Deputy Coroner, she is responsible for the agency operations, including the agency budget of over 3 million dollars, over 2 million in grant funds, managing a staff of 40, including Deputy Coroners, Autopsy Assistants and Administrative Office staff. Overseeing and managing 9 contractual Forensic Pathologists and other professional service providers for the office. She oversees over 3,000 death investigations annually, coordinates trainings and education for the staff, and develops agency work policies and procedures. Alfie has supervised the death scene investigation and management of three mass shootings in Indianapolis in 2021, including the nationally known, April 15 Incident that involved the Fed Ex Facility where 8 people were killed, and the shooter committed suicide. Alfie serves on the board of Overdose Lifeline, a local non-profit organization working in the city to educate the community on drug overdoses and prevention of overdose deaths using various harm reduction methods. Alfie is an adjunct faculty member at Indiana University, Purdue University, Indianapolis teaching Death Investigations.