Marion County Coroner bomb threat linked to recent fatal crash in Johnson County

INDIANAPOLIS — A reported bomb threat on Friday morning at the Marion County Coroner’s Office was linked to the transfer of a body from Johnson County.

According to officials with the Marion County Coroner’s Office, a dead man arrived at the office from an incident in another county with “what appeared to be a suspected explosive device on the body.”

Johnson County Coroner Mike Pruitt confirmed this was related to the transfer of a body involved in a Thursday morning fatal crash. According to previous reports, 30-year-old Marco Antonio Pena Morales of Chicago died in a fatal crash on Thursday in Johnson County as a result of a chase involving the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Morales was a reported aggravated assault suspect.

Officials said the bomb squad was called in around 8 a.m. on Friday after the suspected device was discovered at the Marion County Coroner’s Office.

“We are relieved to report that the device has been safely removed from our premises. At this time, all of our staff are safe and there is no ongoing threat,” officials from the Marion County Coroner’s Office said in a statement to FOX59/CBS4. “We appreciate the public’s understanding that we cannot release further details as this matter remains under investigation. 

In a statement from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the suspicious item was safely removed from the building.

“This is not believed to be a targeted act of violence toward any person(s) or entity,” IMPD’s statement read. “All employees have returned to the building.”

In the statement from Johnson County, Pruitt provided more clarity on the connection between the two incidents.

Pruitt said that on Thursday morning, two deputy coroners with the Johnson County Coroner’s Office arrived at the scene on I-65. Because of the details of the crash, the statement read that the case was treated as a homicide.

“Condition of the vehicle and decedent did make the scene more difficult,” the statement read.

After the crash, a request was made to transfer Morales’ body to the Marion County Coroner’s Office. In response to the request, Johnson County Coroner’s Office personnel, along with the fire department, “removed the individual from the vehicle and coordinated the transfer to Marion County.”

“My biggest concern from this incident was the safety of all personnel involved,” Pruitt said in the statement regarding Friday’s reported bomb threat. “God was looking out for everyone on the scene and at the Marion County Coroner’s Office. We will continue to work with agencies involved as the investigation moves forward. We review all cases in our office to assure quality control.”