Record suicide and homicide rate contribute to decade’s deadliest year
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News 12 at 6 o’clock — Wednesday, December 29, 2010
AUGUSTA, GA. — by the time this year is over, the coroner says the number of people who have died in the county could be the most ever. in terms of violent deaths though, they’ve already reached a new high.
The coroner’s office says the number of murders has pushed their case load to nearly 1,300 deaths for the year. That’s the highest number they’ve worked since 1991, which they say was the deadliest year on record.
It’s not over yet, but even if it doesn’t break the record, the coroner says violent deaths already have reached record numbers.
“The memories will never go away,” said Debra Garnett, mother of slain 20-year-old Corey Garnett. “If I left here and went to California the memories will still go with me.”
And as far as they travel, the memories of Debra’s son, Corey being murdered back in September, still aren’t easy to picture.
“It is what it is,” she said. “Just take it day by day.”
At the coroner’s office, there’s a long list of lives being cut short just like Corey’s, said Richmond County Coroner Grover Tuten.
“I have never seen young folks with guns or the number of teens with gun related incidents,” Tuten said.
“I think they’ve been desensitized,” Garnett said. “Nobody’s guiding them and telling them there are consequences for actions like this.”
Coroner Tuten says there have been a record, 82 violent deaths this year, which includes car accidents. of all the cases, he says the young people are the toughest to watch die.
“It’s terrible,” Tuten said. “They don’t have any idea what life is all about and what’s the answer? I wish I knew.”
While they can’t answer why the homicide rate is so high, Tuten blames heat for a deadly summer for Senior Citizens and says poor health and the economy are to blame for the surging suicide numbers.
“What they don’t see is the grief they’ve caused the family. It’s terrible,” Tuten said about people who commit suicide.
A terrible feeling that Debra feels daily, especially since nobody has been brought to justice for taking her son’s life.
“Whether it’s dealt with here in the natural or dealt with when they’re standing before God and his righteousness. one thing about it is, it will be dealt with,” she added.
The 82 violent deaths could still get higher as they are still waiting on autopsy results for nearly a dozen more cases.
They haven’t compiled the final numbers for the year because it isn’t over yet, but 1,271 is the record number of deaths from 1991.