technician at the Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office in Newark has been charged with stealing cash from the body of a man who was killed in a car crash in December in Newark.
Darryl L. Green, 48, of Piscataway, N.J., who was employed as a forensic morgue technician by the Office of the State Medical Examiner, was charged yesterday by complaint-summons with third-degree theft by unlawful taking. Green is being terminated from his state position in connection with the charge. As an autopsy photographer for the Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, Green produced photographic records for death investigations.
Green allegedly stole U.S. currency totaling approximately $1,120 from the body of a 28-year-old man who was killed in a single-car crash that occurred before 3:15 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18, in the 300 block of Sherman Avenue in Newark.
Members of law enforcement and personnel from the Medical Examiner’s Office observed and documented that there was cash in the victim’s pocket at the scene of the accident, where he was pronounced dead and placed in a body bag. However, the cash was missing when the man’s body was removed from the body bag the following day, Dec. 19, for an autopsy. Green allegedly opened the body bag at the morgue at some point in time prior to the autopsy and took the cash from the victim’s clothing.
The case is being investigated and prosecuted by the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau.
Third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000. The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Because the charge is an indictable offense, it will be presented to a grand jury for potential indictment.
The Division of Criminal Justice has established a toll-free Corruption Tipline 1-866-TIPS-4CJ for the public to confidentially report corruption, financial crime and other illegal activities. The public also can log on to the Division’s web page at www.njdcj.org to report suspected wrongdoing confidentially.