Coroner Arrest

Benton County coroner Kimberly Scott is facing felony charges after investigators found un-prescribed prescription drugs in her home. According to the affidavit, Scott was confiscating prescription drugs such as Morphine, Lexapro, and Oxycodone, from hospices and residences where someone died. "She would come in and take the prescription drugs and she was ingesting them for personal use, this was confirmed, she did make a full confession to ingesting Morphine and other narcotics," Benton County Prosecutor Robin Green said Saturday. Deputy Coroner Jessica Palmer and a former county employee told investigators they became suspicious when a large bottle of Morphine disappeared from the coroner`s office. Any drugs confiscated from a death scene were supposed to go into an evidence locker, but according to the affidavit, Scott was storing a large amount of drugs in her desk, and at her home. Scott was released without bail and will serve as coroner until she either resigns or is removed from office. "The fact of the matter is she was elected by the people to serve in this capacity, but it`s very troubling to me that in the course of these duties she committed these crimes by taking these drugs which would definitely impact her ability to adequately perform these duties," Green said. Scott faces two felony charges-- which could mean up to 10 years in prison and up to a 10-thousand dollar fine for each count, as well as two misdemeanor charges.