Investigative Staff
The Caddo Parish Coroner’s investigative staff includes one Chief Investigator and several Coroner Investigators/Death Investigators. The investigators’ primary duties are performing death investigations and mental health investigations (in the form of protective custody orders).
Death investigations include scene investigations, body exams, photo documentation, medical records review, witness interviews, written report and completion of the death certificate. The initial death investigation process helps determine the probable cause and manner of death and/or whether an autopsy will be ordered or not.
Mental health investigations, in the form of protective custody orders, are performed by interviewing witnesses by a strict set of criteria to determine if an individual may need psychiatric evaluation.
How do I become a Death investigator/Coroner investigator? See our FAQ page and you can also read about our certification here: https://abmdi.org
(You may complete an application at our main office at any time. It will be kept on file for approximately one year. If any job opportunities arise during that time frame, your application will be reviewed).
Investigators
Katrina Wright, D-ABMDI
Katrina Wright is a graduate from Bossier Parish Community College and Louisiana State University, earning her A.S. in 1994 and B.A. degree in 1998, both in General Studies. Katrina has also earned her Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Katrina relocated to New Jersey, where she was employed with Willingboro Public School District as an assistant for the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Curriculum. While in New Jersey, she completed an A.S. in Mortuary Science for a career in funeral services employed with Serenity Funeral Home and Tunsil Funeral Home, Inc. In 2006, Katrina returned to Shreveport and began her career as a death investigator for Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office. She became a registered Medicolegal Death Investigator in 2008 with the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators. Katrina is also a member of International Association of Forensic Nurses for whom she has presented lectures regarding death investigations. Katrina works closely with the Department of Health & Hospitals, Office of Public Health in order to decrease the number of preventable child and infant deaths in Caddo Parish. Most recently, Katrina has begun working closely with Overton Brooks VA Medical Center and Veterans Affairs to ensure a respectable and proper interment for displaced veterans.
Mary Whitehorn
Mary Whitehorn began her career with Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office in 2017. In 2018, she attended the Medicolegal Death Investigator Training Course in St. Louis, MO. Mary Whitehorn attended college at Bossier Parish Community College, focusing on Criminal Justice. Mary was previously employed with Lions Eye Bank, performing cornea recoveries. Mary Whitehorn provides compassionate and diligent service as a death investigator for Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office.
Allison Ducre
Allison Ducre has been employed with Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office since September 2022. Allison is originally from Lacombe, LA, a small town 30 miles north of New Orleans. She moved to Lake Charles, LA to attend Mcneese State University, pursing a degree in Forensic Chemistry. She ultimately received her degree in Criminal Justice from Sowela Technical Community College. In 2018, she interned with Calcasieu Parish Public Defender’s Office. There she worked closely underneath the previous Chief Investigator who inspired her to pursue an occupation in investigations. She would like to express her deepest gratitude for Shelia Jeter Hayes, Kim Wilson, and her two loving parents, Gabriel and Alice Ducre, for all of the love and support throughout the years.
Destinee Foust
Destinee Foust received her online certification from Death Investigation Training Academy. She has also attended some college at Bossier Parish Community College, majoring in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Medicolegal Death Investigation. Destinee was previously employed several years by Barham & Warner, L.L.C., a small law firm, where she gained much knowledge about legal proceedings. She has been passionate about photography going on seven years now. Destinee has moved around quite a bit but always ends up right back in Louisiana, a place she has called home ever since a young age.