Pike County, IL Sheriff Faces Official Misconduct Charges

Pike County, Illinois Sheriff Paul Petty faces charges following his actions in the September 2012 death investigation for a Milton woman. 

The Quincy Herald Whig says Pike County State’s Attorney Carrie Boyd filed information in the case on Friday. Petty is charged with official misconduct and failure to perform duties in his role as coroner following the death of 47-year-old Shanda Lopez. Boyd says the body was embalmed and no blood was taken for toxicology tests.

A special prosecutor will be named to handle the charges against Petty.

26-year-old John Edgar of Pearl is accused of drug induced homicide in Lopez death. Results of an autopsy lead investigators to believe Lopez ingested heroin the night before her death.