Police investigating coroner after allegations of child pornography
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Updated: 11:57 PM Nov 3, 2009
Police investigating coroner after allegations of child pornography
We continue to learn more about an investigation focused on a Central Kentucky coroner. It's a story WKYT broke at 5:00.
Posted: 6:39 PM Nov 3, 2009
Reporter: Tamara Evans
Email Address: tamara.evans@wkyt.com
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We continue to learn more about an investigation focused on a Central Kentucky coroner. It's a story WKYT broke at 5:00.

A search warrant unsealed late this afternoon reveals why Kentucky State Police searched Woodford County coroner James Steve Ward's funeral home, office, and home in October.

According to the affidavits for search warrants for Steve Ward's home, office, and the Blackburn & Ward Funeral home, it was the deputy coroner, Danny Owens, who notified police of a possible child pornography complaint.

Documents now unsealed reveal the deputy coroner met with Kentucky State Police detectives giving them a CD that contained two imaged.

The two images were of two female girls, who were nude and appeared to be approximately eight to eleven years old. Both had websites on the photos, appearing to have been downloaded. The deputy coroner told police he found them on a computer in the coroner's office, which is networked to other computers in there and at the funeral home.

He also told police Steve Ward had a journal belonging to someone who passed away. In it the deceased person wrote about sexual relationships with children and animals. He says the coroner read him excerpts from it.

We tried to contact the coroner about the accusations, but we were unable to reach him. Police removed computer equipment and other electronics from his home, office, and funeral home in October as well as all Cd's and DVDs they could find.

As for the deputy coroner, he declined an interview about this case.

Steve Ward has not been charged or arrested. The case is now being transferred to the Woodford Circuit Court.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Concerned Individual Location: Versailles on Nov 9, 2009 at 01:53 PM

As I read what was said about Steve Ward, it does not prove that he is guilty of anything. It only says that they have found certain things on his computer, this does not mean or prove any wrong doing at this time. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? We should wait and see what really comes out of this investigation before we make a judgment. Just think, if something like this happened to you, and you were innocent and these things were being said, how devistating it would be for you!
Posted by: Some Location: Guy on Nov 8, 2009 at 07:13 PM

I see where a lot of people on here know Steve Ward and speak of his innocence. I believe that what is going on here is a story of a "good" man who has personal demons he has hidden from his closest friends and family for as long as he could. People are not cutting Danny Owens any slack, do any of you people think that is was easy for him to do this, especially with everything that's coming at him now. I'm sorry, but allegations of children, deceased, and animals is too much to not take into consideration...even if you know him. It's too random and strong to make up. I hope to God that these allegations are not true, but if they are, may Ward repent of these sins that he has committed. No matter what it is, your sins will always come to the surface in one way or another.
Posted by: Thomas J. Location: USA on Nov 6, 2009 at 09:53 AM

If that is all it takes for the cops to raid your home what are we supposed to do with our National Geographics? Should we let the pro-censorship control freaks win and burn them?

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