A deputy coroner in Aiken County has resigned amid a SLED investigation into the theft of prescription drugs at the scene of deaths.
Deputy Coroner Alton Smith resigned shortly after being placed on administrative leave, Coroner Darryl Ables said Wednesday. Authorities say they found several pill bottles and medication in his home and in a shed in the back yard.
“Allegations of mishandling of prescription medications collected as evidence at death scenes were made against Mr. Smith,” Ables said. “Mr. Smith was immediately placed on administrative leave and SLED was contacted to investigate.”
Smith resigned from his position shortly afterwards and the case was turned over to SLED.
Ables filed a report with the sheriff’s office on June 10, which led to a search of Smith’s home on Griffin Avenue in Aiken. Several pill bottles and medication were found in various places in Smith’s residence, and pill bottles along with “several clear plastic pouches that contained prescription pills” were found in a shed in the back yard, a report says.
The evidence was held for SLED agents, the report says.
