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Cyril H. Wecht
The federal government ended its long investigation and criminal prosecution of former Allegheny County Coroner Cyril H. Wecht on June 2, 2009, when U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan's office filed a motion to dismiss all counts against him. Federal prosecutors had accused him of crimes including wire and mail fraud and theft of honest services.
The investigation of Dr. Wecht became public in early 2005. His trial began on Jan. 28, 2008, but ended in mistrial on April 8, 2008, when the jury deadlocked. In the months that followed, prosecutors and the defense team wrangled over a retrial until May 14, 2009, when a federal judge issued an order suppressing much of the evidence. That decision led Ms. Buchanan's office to file its motion to dismiss, which a federal judge signed the same day.
In their case, federal prosecutors had contended that Dr. Wecht misused his public office for private gain, improperly availing himself of the staff and resources of the coroner's office to run errands and aid him in his personal life and private pathology business.
Throughout the prosecution, Dr. Wecht's principal attorneys, Jerry McDevitt and Mark Rush, maintained their client's innocence.
Below are links to background on the case, including a timeline with links to Post-Gazette coverage, bios of key participants, and court documents.
• "Dismissal of charges against Wecht doesn't have to affect judge's reputation according to experts," June 7, 2009
• "Wecht charges dropped; U.S. attorney blames court order that surpressed evidence," June 3, 2009
• "Wecht deep in debt, but delighted battle is over," June 3, 2009
• "Charges against Cyril H. Wecht to be dismissed," June 2, 2009
• "GOP prosecutor is on the hot seat over whether to press Wecht case," May 17, 2009
• "Wecht ruling could end his trial," May 16, 2009
• "Judge throws out evidence in Wecht case," May 14, 2009
• "Erie judge hears arguments regarding federal Wecht trial," March 21, 2008
• "Wecht case back in court but with new judge," Jan. 30, 2009
• "Wecht lawyers oppose change of trial venue," Dec. 20, 2008
• "U.S. seeks to move Wecht retrial to Erie," Dec. 6, 2008
• "High court denies appeal, won't halt retrial of Wecht," Dec. 2, 2008
• "Prosecution cuts charges to 14 in new Wecht trial," Nov. 8, 2008
• "New judge selected for Wecht retrial," Nov. 1, 2008
• "Ex-judge mediating resolution in Wecht case," Sept. 13, 2008
• "Court: Wecht can be retried, but different judge must hear the case," Sept. 6, 2008
• "Judges hear Wecht oppose retrial," Aug. 5, 2008
• "Wecht's attorneys claim double jeopardy," Aug. 4, 2008
• "Wecht jurors' names must be made public," Aug. 2, 2008
• "Appeals court sets Aug. 4 for Wecht argument," July 19, 2008
• "Wecht prosecutor leaving U.S. attorney's office," July 11, 2008
• "DOJ must clarify decision to prosecute Pittsburgh coroner," July 2, 2008
• "Media to appeal post-trial rulings in Wecht case," April 23, 2008
• "Wecht lawyers seek dismissal," April 22, 2008
• "Neither side relishing retrial in Wecht case," April 20, 2008
• "Jury in Wecht case favored conviction by 6-5, juror says," April 18, 2008
• "U.S. House panel still concerned over Wecht prosecution," April 17, 2008
• "Wecht judge says he won't step aside," April 17, 2008
• "Members of both parties petition for end to Wecht case," April 16, 2008
• "Wecht prosecutors may seek out-of-town jury," April 16, 2008
• "Wecht lawyers call a second trial double jeopardy, ask for dismissal," April 15, 2008
• "Feds say they will retry Wecht on all 41 counts," April 14, 2008
• "Contacts with Wecht jurors criticized," April 12, 2008
• "Wecht lawyers ask judge to step aside," April 11, 2008
• "Feds say they will retry Wecht on all 41 counts," April 11, 2008
• "Some jurors skeptical of case against Wecht; new trial set for May 27," April 10, 2008
• "Judge declines motion to acquit Wecht," May 24, 2008
• "Oral arguments scheduled in Cyril Wecht appeal," May 16, 2008
• "Court puts indefinite stay on Wecht trial," May 9, 2008
• "Motion on Wecht jurors' names filed," May 6, 2008
• "Judge won't dismiss on double-jeopardy claim in Wecht trial," April 30, 2008
• "Wecht jurors surprised prosecutors seek retrial," April 29, 2008
• Daily trial log; day-by-day listing of witnesses, key testimony and court activity
Week One• "'Wecht details' described to jury," with audio reports, Jan. 29
• "Cadavers wrongly went to Carlow, former aide says in Wecht case," with audio report, Jan. 30
• "More Wecht staffers testify about go-fer work," with audio reports, Jan. 31
• "More Wecht staffers say errands impaired work," with audio reports, Feb. 1
Week Two• "Witness: Private autopsies done on county time," Feb. 5, 2008
• Former employee continues testimony in Wecht trial, Feb. 6, 2008
• "Wecht's private correspondence handled on county time, aide says," Feb. 7. 2008
• "Wecht trial continues; Las Vegas tape introduced," Feb. 8, 2008
Week Three• "Wecht billed clients for phony travel, secretary tells jury," Feb. 12, 2008
• "Power problem closes courthouse, postpones Wecht trial," Feb. 12, 2008
• "Office assistants testify in Wecht case," Feb. 14, 2008
Week Four• "Aide details phony billings in Wecht case," with audio report, Feb. 20, 2008
• "Prosecutors examine Wecht's private practice," Feb. 22, 2008
Week Five• "Defense strikes back in Wecht trial," with audio reports, Feb. 26, 2008
• "Wecht trial targets faxes," Feb. 27, 2008
• "Wecht ex-secretary wraps up testimony," with audio report, Feb. 28
• "Wecht's ex-chief aide takes witness stand," Feb. 29, 2008
Week Six• "Trial explores ex-coroner's cadaver deal with Carlow," March 4, 2008
• "Wecht trial session canceled today," March 4, 2008
• "Wecht lawyers take knife to cadaver claims," March 6, 2008
• "Former Carlow president denies Wecht deal existed," March 7, 2008
Week Seven• "Former Carlow president questioned in Wecht trial," March 11, 2008
• "Wecht defense rests case, calls no witnesses," March 12, 2008
• "Judge denies Wecht motion for acquittal," March 13, 2008
Week Eight• "Long Wecht trial heads to jury," March 16, 2008
• "Inside the Wecht case," March 16, 2008
• "Final arguments made in case against Wecht," March 18, 2008
• "Wecht jury still deliberating," March 20, 2008
• "Still no verdict in Wecht trial," March 21, 2008
Week Nine• "Wecht jury begins sixth day of deliberations in federal court," March 27, 2008
• "Wecht jury gets long weekend," March 28, 2007
Week Ten• "Sick juror in Wecht trial causes early recess," April 2, 2008
• "Wecht lawyer objects to ill juror's dismissal," April 3, 2008
• "Wecht jury deadlocked; judge says to go on," April 4, 2008
• "Wecht defense calls for mistrial," April 5, 2008
Week Eleven• "Could a hung jury force second Wecht trial?," April 7, 2008
• "Wecht jurors entering 11th day of deliberations," April 8, 2008
• "Jury deadlocked; judge declares mistrial / Many questions surround Wecht retrial," April 9, 2008
• "Wecht supporters criticize prosecution decision to retry case," April 9, 2008
• Timeline with links to Post-Gazette coverage
- Original indictment, Jan. 20, 2006
- Revised indictment, Jan. 7, 2008
- 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab may stay on the case
- Court documents on the disciplinary record of FBI Special Agent Bradley W. Orsini
- Opinion of U.S. District Judge Sean J. McLaughlin suppressing evidence in the case, May 14, 2009
First Published: January 27, 2008, 5:00 a.m.