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Podcasts Take Two
A day in the life of LA's infant and child death investigator
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Jul 31, 2013
Listen • 7:55
A day in the life of LA's infant and child death investigator
Denise Bertone, 50, has been the chief – and only – infant and child death investigator at the county coroner’s office for the past eleven years.
Denise Bartone looks at evidence in the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner forensics laboratory. Bartone is the leading coroner for deceased babies.
Denise Bartone looks at evidence in the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner forensics laboratory. Bartone is the leading coroner for deceased babies.
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Mae Ryan/KPCC
)

Denise Bertone, 50, has been the chief – and only – infant and child death investigator at the county coroner’s office for the past eleven years.

In a county the size of Los Angeles, with 10 million people, thousands die each year. Not every death is investigated, except one kind: Children

Every time a child dies in the county, an investigator is assigned to find out what happened. That investigator is Denise Bertone. Her phone is the first to ring when a baby dies, and she's often the first investigator at the scene.

KPCC's Deepa Fernandes tagged along on her daily rounds.

Warning: This story may not be suitable for all listeners.